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The Camden Public Library has once again received a Five-Star Rating from Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service. 2022 is the 15th year in which Library Journal has scored U.S. public libraries and awarded Star Ratings to a select number of them.
The 2022 scores and ratings are based on 2020 data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey, as this is the most recent nationally available data.
Four libraries in Maine have been awarded Star Ratings this year. The Camden Public Library is the only Maine library to receive a Five-Star Rating in 2022. Across the country, a total of 85 libraries received a Five-Star Rating this year.
The other Maine libraries to receive Star Ratings from Library Journal in 2022 are:
The ratings are produced by measuring a library’s statistics and comparing them to the averages of other libraries that are similar according to their expenditure level. The statistics are derived from per capita output measures including:
The Camden Public Library’s Five-Star Rating reflects how our community and visitors engage with the library, and the support received for the library’s services and programs—even during the unprecedented changes of 2020.
Thank you to the staff and volunteers at the Camden Public Library for all the work they do to provide this constant for our community. And thank you to our members, visitors, and the entire CPL community for your support!
Read the complete article “America’s Star Libraries: The LJ Index of Public Library Service 2022” from the December 2022 issue of Library Journal in the PDF below, or online here.
The Camden Public Library is proud to introduce Bendable Maine, a robust learning marketplace, in partnership with the Maine State Library.
Bendable Maine allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to easily discover and access content that is just right for them on a wide variety of subjects and then acquire new knowledge and skills through online courses as well as local, in-person learning opportunities.
The vast majority of the learning made available through the system is free to residents of the state. (When there is a cost to the user, it is clearly indicated.)
Having people attain new skills so that they can improve their job prospects is extremely important, so much of the learning on Bendable Maine is work-related. The platform includes career pathways, backed by Maine employers, where you can earn a digital badge, giving you a leg up in your job search.
At the same time, Bendable Maine has resources on a wide variety of topics, including cooking healthier meals, handling personal finances, fixing things around the house, understanding technology—even foraging for mushrooms.
The platform features personal learning playlists from individual residents across Maine. It also has lots of resources from state and local providers (the university and community college systems, career centers, adult education programs, music schools, art museums and many others), along with a wide range of national providers (including Study.com, edX, GCFGlobal and a dozen more).
So be sure to check out Bendable Maine! Just visit maine.bendable.com. We also have a link to Bendable under the “Learn” tab on the library’s homepage.
Creative Art Afternoons are back in person every Thursday in the fall. This is a wonderful afterschool activity for kids who are interested in developing their artistic skills and experimenting with new crafts. One-hour projects are facilitated by Youth Librarian Miss Amy. Call 236-3440 to sign up for the sessions.
Our monthly book groups are a fun way to talk about books we love, discover new authors, and share ideas. Our Maine Student Book Award Club is for students in grades 4-8. We have a list at the library, or you can check out the list at http://msba.umeedu.maine.edu/ for the latest books for suggestion. Our monthly meetings usually include a potluck and a lot of laughs.
Our YA Book-Lovers Club meets on a Tuesday once a month from 4 to 5. You don’t have to be a teen to like YA books, and we encourage anyone to attend. Our group choice changes monthly, so be sure to check out our events calendar or stop by the library to request the latest pick!
We are seeking your help to Stock the Stacks! The Stock the Stacks fund is an essential part of our operating budget, and it goes directly into purchasing new books. We always strive to keep the library shelves current and vibrant — and we can’t do it without you! Visit https://www.librarycamden.org/stockthestacks to donate – and thank you!
The National Library Service (NLS) is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books the way you want them: in braille or audio formats, mailed to your door for free, or instantly downloadable. (more…)
This is a picture taken from Mt. Battie around 1880 looking toward Rockport harbor. 
