Case Memorial Library receives $1 million grant to rebuild

KENDUSKEAG, Maine (WABI) -The Case Memorial Library in Kenduskeag will be receiving $1 million to construct a new library to allow for more storage and community space.

The funding was secured by Sen. Susan Collins in an appropriations bill.

The current building was originally a doctor’s office in the 1800s and later donated to the town in 1915 to be used as a public library.

The building has no septic or running water.

In 2020, the library was just one of the 25 in Maine that did not have a digitized catalogue and did everything on paper.

Librarian Wendy Cousins tells us the building is overflowing with books and is too crammed for the community to be able to enjoy it.

“We don’t have enough space. We get three or four kids in here and they’re falling over each other. This is something that we have needed. We have really needed this. Dr.Case started, this was his place, and then after him and his sons passed away, his daughter came in and she, she built this she finished this off. This was their legacy. They they gave this to the town. And that’s important to the town. It’s part of the town’s history,” Cousins said.

The timeline meeting is being held this Thursday to talk about construction.

The new library will be located about a half mile away.

Cousins hopes the current building can be taken over by the historical society.