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(207) 594-0310 | library@rocklandmaine.gov | Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street Rockland, Maine 04841
Hours: Welcome back! The Library is now open; see below for details. The hours at present are Monday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 1 PM.
We are pleased to be able to be open to the public again. In order to keep our staff and patrons safe, and to be able to stay open, we are requiring people to please adhere to the following guidelines:
Library will be open limited hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am- 5 pm, Saturday, 10 am- 1 pm, Sunday- closed.
Parking lot door (White St. entrance) to be used only.
Library building is limited to 15 people at a time. This includes patrons of all ages.
Masks are required. For those who cannot wear a mask, we will provide a reusable face shield.
When possible, one member from a family only.
Patrons are asked to keep their visit to 30 minutes.
We have a very limited amount of public computers, the time limit is 30 minutes.
Computer/copier assistance limited to what we can provide from 6 feet away.
Returns continue to be accepted in outside bins only.
Curbside service continues Monday-Friday, 10 am- 4:30 pm, Saturday, 10 am- 12:30 pm.
Lower level closed, virtual library programming only (see our social media links below).
No donations accepted at this time.
Thank you for your patience and consideration. We are looking forward to seeing you again!!
2020 Summer Reading Program is here!We have two programs available, one for youth and one for adults. Both can create an account, start reading, logging, and earning badges HERE. For those who prefer to play offline, a registration packet can be picked up at the library. How much can YOU read in 6 weeks?
The Friends of Rockland Library are pleased to announce a "new" type of garden tour! From June 20th to July 11th, from 10-3, visit the beautiful gardens of Rockland, self-guided and at your own pace! Donations will be accepted at each garden. Download and print the brochure, and we'll see you soon!
The 2020 Census is here! Make sure you’re counted! An accurate snapshot means that communities across the nation receive the funding, services, and business support they deserve and need. And your responses are confidential. To learn how the @uscensusbureau protects your information, visit 2020census.gov. #2020Census
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Find Something New to Read
Enjoy a themed musical storytime, with songs, rhymes, and 2 books. This program is great for toddlers – early elementary. Go to our YouTube Channel- Rockin’ Storytime playlist. New every Tuesday!
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
Chris Van Dusen
Join us on Facebook to welcome local author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen. Chris will be reading a book or two of his and then talking to the group about how he writes and illustrates his books. Listen, learn, and chat with the author live or watch our recording later: https://www.facebook.com/Rockland-Public-Library-60836427783/?eid=ARCTUXpbbAqrBo5_Z1vwnOozfkVpmhymtScS_0mC4-FZbkjHaXjbBzYziUtBX71KAGn-RFPwWOZWiAWV
If you have a question for Chris Van Dusen, but will not be able to attend the event live please email Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov.
This is our 2nd event of Summer Reading Program. Join us Wed, July 15th @ 11:00 AM for our Facebook Live Author Visit with Fran Hodgkins & discuss her newly released chapter book Hex.
For more information about Summer Reading Program please email Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
Judith Carpenter
The Uninvited Goddess: Awakening to a New Era offers Rockland author Judith Carpenter’s personal stories of struggling and awakening as an invitation and encouragement for readers to consider their own. She felt called through a dream to write the book, then felt driven to complete it by late 2019, not knowing how prescient a resource it might prove to be in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has launched us all into a “new era,“ and we are “awakening” to critical, global realities on an almost daily basis. Judith is excited to talk with you about the “uninvited goddess” and what she might signify for us and for our times. She will offer some readings from her book, as well as the opportunity for questions and discussion.
Miss Jenn
Celebrate Summer Reading Program with 5 weeks of LIVE storytimes with Ms. Jenn on the Rockland Public Library Facebook page. Ms. Jenn will read, sing, and introduce you to fun activities like Fairytale Yoga & Pocket Dice dance moves. This interactive storytime will include fairytale songs and stories to get your mind and body moving!
Ms. Jenn will be live on Mondays at 10:30 AM on June 29th, July 6th, July 13th, July 20th, (no Ms. Jenn on July 27th), & Aug 3rd.
Join us live at our Facebook page or watch the recordings at a later date. Looking for more stories? Miss Katie provides three virtual storytimes a week on YouTube & Facebook.
For more information about Summer Reading Program email Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
Join Adult Program Coordinator Shane Billings on the third Wednesday of each month for Rockland Public Library’s Contemporary Fiction Discussion Group. Our focus is critically acclaimed and award-winning titles from the past ten years. July’s discussion, which will take place via the Zoom platform, will center around An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones, which won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Email Shane, sbillings@rocklandmaine.gov, for Zoom link.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
Miss Jenn
Celebrate Summer Reading Program with 5 weeks of LIVE storytimes with Ms. Jenn on the Rockland Public Library Facebook page. Ms. Jenn will read, sing, and introduce you to fun activities like Fairytale Yoga & Pocket Dice dance moves. This interactive storytime will include fairytale songs and stories to get your mind and body moving!
Ms. Jenn will be live on Mondays at 10:30 AM on June 29th, July 6th, July 13th, July 20th, (no Ms. Jenn on July 27th), & Aug 3rd.
Join us live at our Facebook page or watch the recordings at a later date. Looking for more stories? Miss Katie provides three virtual storytimes a week on YouTube & Facebook.
For more information about Summer Reading Program email Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
The MHC discussions hosted by Rockland Public Library will celebrate Maine’s bicentennial with a wonderful list of readings related to the following themes: Many Maines, Wabanaki Voices, and Race & Ethnicity.
RPL’s Discussion Project begins at 3pm on Wednesday, July 22nd on Zoom and continues for three sessions, through September 23rd.
For more information on Rockland Public Library’s Discussion Project, contact Patricia King or Shane Billings at 590-0841.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
Lucky Platt
Join author/ illustrator Lucky Platt for a virtual art lesson in her summer bunkhouse studio. Get a tour of her workspace and get out your favorite drawing materials – paper or sketchbook, pencils, markers, brushes or crayons – for a super fun drawing session exploring character development.
Lucky Platt lives on a lake in Burnham, ME where she invents characters and writes stories about them. Her first book, Imagine a Wolf, will be published by Page Street Kids in early 2021.
Contact Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov for the Zoom link.
For more virtual events from us and around the State of Maine go the Statewide Virtual Calendar.
This section is to answer some of the frequently asked questions about the Rockland Public Library and its services. If you do not find the answer here please feel free to call us (207) 594-0310 or ask your question online.
The Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 10:00am – 8:00pm & Wednesday, Friday, Saturday-10:00am-5:00pm. Now open Sundays 1:00-5:00pm. We are closed for Federal and State holidays.
When the weather outside is frightful, the Library may be closed due to snow, ice, or other hazards, so please check our alerts & announcements for closures & delayed openings, or the Library’s Facebook page, and local news outlets, if unsure.
Sure; the Rockland Public Library accepts donations of used books, videos, and audio-books in good condition. Some may be added to the Library’s collection, or they may be sold by the Friends of Rockland Library in the Book Stop or book sales, or online. Proceeds of these sales go to the Rockland Public Library in the form of new books or programs.
However, there are some things we cannot accept because past experience tells us we cannot use or re-sell these items. They include: damaged books (these are essentially worthless and should be disposed of), mildewed books (mildew is “contagious” and can quickly spread to other books), encyclopedias, most textbooks, medical or health books more than 5 years old, technical or computer books more than 5 years old, Readers Digest condensed books, vinyl records, videotapes, magazines or other periodicals, and remainders from other organizations’ book sales.
Because storage space is tight, the Library can only accept 2-3 bags or boxes of books at a time. If you have more to donate, please make an appointment for your delivery. Please call the library at (207) 594-0310 to leave your name, telephone number and the best times for you to bring in your donations. We will call you back to make an appointment, and do our best to accommodate your schedule. Thank you for your donation! Your support helps keep your Library strong.
Yes; You can view the printing fees on this page. We recommend doing a print preview so you don’t pay for something which doesn’t print the way you expected.
Yes! We’ve recently started one called Catching up with the Classics. It meets (generally) the third Saturday of the month. You are welcome join.
Rent the Library’s Board Room or Community Room for your next meeting or program. Call the Library (207) 594-0310 for availability. Once you have determined availability, read the Meeting Room Policy, print an application form and send or fax to Rockland Public Library with your payment.
Payment is due before we can schedule the room. A refundable $50 security deposit is required for use of A/V equipment and/or when food is permitted; this security deposit does not hold the room. Full payment is required to hold the room. Please write a separate check for the security deposit.
For more detailed information & fees, please visit our Meeting Rooms page.
Yes; it is self-service; it requires a credit or debit card; if you need one, the Library has fax cards available for purchase. You can view the fees for this service here.
Yes. Please see our fees page for more details on the cost of this service.
Yes; there are two fountains just before you enter the Children’s Room.
Most items may be checked out for two weeks; DVDs circulate for one week. New books and DVDs may be renewed once; most other items may be renewed three times, as long as no one else is waiting for the item. For more detailed information on loan periods, please visit this page.
Please pick up, print and complete the volunteer application form. We will get in touch with you. There are often opportunities to volunteer in the Library, as well as with the Friends of the Rockland Public Library.
For more information on volunteering at the Library, please visit this page.
We have an online interactive map of the Library here.
Rockland residents, current Coast Guard members, or property owners are eligible for a free library card, as are Knox County kids and teachers through 12th grade. Any non-resident may purchase a card, and summer visitors may purchase a temporary card for a three-month period. Library users must possess a card to enjoy some of the many library services offered. A photo ID and proof of current address are required to obtain a card. For more information, please visit our Library Card & Loan Policies page.
You may come in through the lower level entrance, and it will be on your immediate left. From the main level you may use the stairs or elevator. Your see signs pointing your way to the Community Room (to the right, a quick left, and then straight ahead). View the Community Room on our interactive map for a more detailed overview.
Users are required to sign the Library’s internet use policy, available at the Information Desk or Checkout Desk at the Library. At that point they are given the password for the wireless network. For more information please visit our WIFI & Internet Access page.
You can search the Library catalog online here. If you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to request an item using our online form or by calling the Library at (207) 594-0310.
Regular library hours are Welcome back! The Library is now open; see below for details. The hours at present are Monday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 1 PM.. We are closed for all Federal & State holidays.
When the weather outside is frightful, the Library may be closed due to snow, ice, or other hazards, so please check our alerts & announcements for closures & delayed openings if unsure.
Just some of the resources are: the newly digitized and searchable archives of The Lime Rock Gazette, 1846-1850, The Rockland Gazette, 1851-1882, and The Courier Gazette, 1882-1920;
Also, newspapers on microfilm – The Courier Gazette: 1846-2006, Rockland DailyStar: 1899-1906, Rockland Free Press: 1859-1890, Rockland Opinion: 1875-1917. We also have the online database – Ancestry Library, a full-service genealogy database. The Library has Vital Records of Rockland & area towns, the Maine Register from 1855 to the present, local cemetery records, and local history books. Come in, call, or email us.
All kinds! We have regular drawing classes on Tuesday afternoons, and LEGO™ Club on the third Thursday of the month. We offer Storytime & Crafts Wednesday and Saturday mornings, as well as Baby Time on Thursday mornings. Additionally we offer special programs such as puppet shows, magicians, music, art series, and oh so much more. Look at the Library events, or pick up a monthly Events Brochure.
The Book Stop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. It is right across from the Community Room on the lower level of the Library. Next to the Library, it’s the best bargain in town.
For more information, please visit the Book Stop page.
Upper level:
There is a rest room near the Reference Desk (on the left, just before you exit on the Union Street side), as well as in the Children’s Room.
Lower level:
There are two additional restrooms (men’s & women’s) on the lower level, adjacent to the Community Room.
Visit our interactive map of the Library for more detailed information.
The address for the Library is 80 Union Street, in Rockland, between Beech Street and Limerock Street. Click here for a Google™ map. Please note that the Library’s parking lot is located on White Street which is clearly marked on the map. For directions to the Library simply use “White Street” as your destination.
If looking for Library contact details, please visit our contact page here.
The Rockland Historical Society is housed in the lower level of the Library. It has its own separate entrance, though often you can access it through the interior door from the Library. It is open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12 noon to 5:00 PM.
The Library serves the citizens of Rockland by providing the community with a comprehensive collection of materials and programs in a variety of formats, which engage, enlighten and educate; we organize the resources for ease of access, and offer guidance in their use; we support easy access to library collections throughout Maine and beyond. The Library staff responds to the changing requirements and requests of the public. We offer you a warm welcome to this safe, beautiful, and inspiring facility; its infrastructure supports the collections, programs, services, current and future technology, and it provides a meeting place for people and local organizations and entities. The Library is staffed with friendly, professional, knowledgeable people who are here to offer excellent service.
Call us at 207-594-0310, or visit Welcome back! The Library is now open; see below for details. The hours at present are Monday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 1 PM.
Visit the About Rockland Library page for more information.
The Rockland Public Library's mission is to foster community & connection, offer resources to inspire & encourage ideas, and provide the tools to explore our past, enrich our present, & empower our future.
The private value of any public service is defined as the value accruing directly to the participants of the service (Kalambokidis, 2004); public value is defined as the value of a public service to individuals who do not use the service, but who benefit indirectly as others use the service (Kalambokidis, 2004)
Libraries Encourage an Early Love of Reading, Leading to Greater Efficiency in Schools “Did you know that [Rockland Public] is a "Family Place Library," an initiative that helps libraries develop their full potential as community hubs for healthy child and family development, parent and community involvement, and lifelong learning beginning at birth? In addition to benefiting families with young children, this indirectly benefits all other local residents by making the community a more attractive place to live, which translates into better property values." Libraries Deliver Adult Educational Services, Benefiting Participants and Community "One of the most valuable but generally unnoticed services of our local library is the digital education programs for seniors. By helping seniors learn to use the Internet, the library fosters cultural awareness, self-sufficiency, and community investment in our older population. Indirectly this benefits all of us by helping to keep them in the community and contributing to its culture."
Libraries Build a Sense of Community, Encouraging Civic Engagement
"Our library is vital to our community as a public living room, where everyone—from natives to retirees 'from away'—is welcome, regardless of age, politics, or religion. While this directly benefits patrons, it also indirectly benefits the whole town because it makes the community a more attractive place, increasing home values."
Excerpted from The Journal of Extension April 2015 // Volume 53 // Number 2 // Feature // 2FEA1 (Note: Rockland Public Library was a participant in this study, in 2013/2014)
You can view our value statement by clicking here.
You can contact the Rockland Public Library using the details below or by completing the online form below.
Library hours: Welcome back! The Library is now open; see below for details. The hours at present are Monday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 1 PM..
(207) 594-0310
Rockland Public Library Phone
Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street Rockland, Maine 04841
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