Serving Washington, Maine, and its surrounding communities since 1993.
Staff
Library Director: Michelle Menting
Board of Trustees
President: Christina deGroff / president@gibbslibrary.org
Vice President: Kathleen Ocean
Treasurer: Susan D’Amore / treasurer@gibbslibrary.org
Secretary: Julie Madden / secretary@gibbslibrary.org
Trustees
Kristen Baker
Mary Fernandes
Delphine Sherin
Glenice Skelton
Jean Feldeisen
Emeritus Trustees
Hazel Kopishke – active
Joan Freiman – inactive
Deb Hill – inactive
Robert Marks – inactive
Teen Trustees
Lucas B.
The Board of Trustees meets at 7 pm at Gibbs Library the first Monday of each month, except on holidays when the meeting is held the second Monday, and during the months July and August.
The Annual Meeting is held the second Monday of January and is open to the public.
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The Bryant Room – The Gibbs Library aspires to be a focal point for community activities and meetings in Washington, Maine. The library’s Bryant Room may be reserved for use by Washington’s educational, civic, cultural, governmental, and recreational groups when no admission fee is charged and when library staff are available.
Internet Use – The library has both Apple and PC computers available for public use. Users are required to adhere to the Internet Use Policy. Click here for Internet Use policy (pdf file).
WIFI – The Gibbs Library provides free Internet access for users with portable devices capable of receiving wireless signals during normal library hours. Users are required to adhere to the Wifi policy. Click here for Wifi Policy (pdf file).
The Washington Library Association establishes policies, administers operations and funds, and maintains the Gibbs Library building. Click here for the WLA Bylaws.
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The Gibbs Free Library was initially established in 1915 due to a gift of books and, later, a bequest by a Town of Washington resident, Lucero Jackson Gibbs, who left home for the Civil War and later became a prominent physician in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Like many libraries during that time, Gibbs migrated from front parlors to the back of stores or to any other place willing to house it. When a new school was built in the 1950s, the old village schoolhouse became its home. That building burned in 1961. However, from the smoldering ash — Dr. Gibbs’ bequest, a small insurance payment, and a bequest from John and Marcia Bryant — came just over $4,000. This money was invested in 1971 “for future library use” and by the early 1990s had grown to more than $40,000. This was used as seed money to bring in a $360,000 Community Development Block Grant to build the beautiful new Gibbs Library which opened in 1993.
The building consists of 2,500 square feet of library space: the 900-square-foot Bryant Community Room, which is part of the library, and the 900-square-foot Washington Town Office. The Washington Library Association was formed to oversee and manage the library as well as to finance its operation. About 65-75% of the budget goes toward purchasing collection materials and supplies.
The Gibbs Library book collection has grown to over 11,000 volumes all cataloged by barcode using Follett software. Online computers are available to the public and Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. The library is comfortably furnished with seating and work tables, and the children’s wing is an area of particular pride, fun of comfy seating, engaging toys, seasonal scavenger hunt activities, and an eclectic collection of books. Gibbs Library’s growing collection includes the most current publications, literary masterworks and best-sellers, audio books, DVDs, Maine books, and children’s, YA, and juvenile books. The Steven & Tabitha King Language Arts audios contain a choice of over 30 languages such as French, Finnish, and Ojibwe, as well as the college-level Great Courses which include Astronomy, History, Mathematics, Science, Music, and Art classes on DVD and CD.
Not only has Gibbs Library met the needs of a conventional library, but it has brought a new dimension to the community with a series of programs featuring Maine authors and authors “from away,” a wide array of performers, nature and environmental presentations, and cultural events of local interest, along with more than 140 different art exhibits by area artists.