Small town libraries question (Lewiston, Ellsworth: house, college, storage)

[Mark S.]

For all you who grew up in Maine, can you remember back to your local library in the late '70s and early '80s? Do you remember if the past issues of local and Maine newspapers were stored on microfiche, or did they just keep old editions of the papers themselves? Anyone remember?

I didn't grow up in Maine, and our local library had microfiche, but we were a college town, which made things a bit unusual. Anyone know if local smalltown public libraries had microfiche or not?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

They could read microfiche, but not make them in Bucksport in the 70s. Same in Lincoln in the early 80s. We are still headed upstream. I can now step across the brook.

[woxyroxme]

I highly doubt the Peavey library in Eastport has microfiche but the Quoddy Tides building on Water St has bound volumes of old editions of the Quoddy Tides going back several years.

[American girl]

The Ellsworth Public Library has both bound volumes and microfilm of our newspaper, The Ellsworth American, back to 1851 (entire collection). Both supplied by us. We also have both in our library. The public library now has a microfilm reader with a photocopier which saves a lot of wear on the bound volumes, some of which are in rough shape. We used to supply the Hancock County Court House with bound volumes until storage became an issue.

[Mark S.]

Thanks, everyone! So all these libraries that have microfilm ... did you have them back in the early '80s? Anyone remember?

[Kracer]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

For all you who grew up in Maine, can you remember back to your local library in the late '70s and early '80s? Do you remember if the past issues of local and Maine newspapers were stored on microfiche, or did they just keep old editions of the papers themselves? Anyone remember?

I didn't grow up in Maine, and our local library had microfiche, but we were a college town, which made things a bit unusual. Anyone know if local smalltown public libraries had microfiche or not?

Without stated intentions, you might not be aware that many libraries have put all the fische on-line for newspapers dating back to the 1800s. check local libraries for availablity. It is free. Many private sites also but they require a registration fee.

Here for instance is Lewiston, Me, though I have not checked into this site, it appears in the same format as other municipal provided free newspaper archive sites.

Lewiston Newspaper Archives Online | All Things Maine

Usually the search engines leave much to be desired but in my case I discovered some stunning family secrets not even the oldest in my family knew.

So if indeed you are looking for something in the archives as your intent, it may be a couple of keyboard clicks away.

[American girl]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Thanks, everyone! So all these libraries that have microfilm ... did you have them back in the early '80s? Anyone remember?

When I came to work at the paper in 1978 we had a microfilm reader. The library got one a few years later.

[Mark S.]

Excellent. Thanks, everyone!

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

For all you who grew up in Maine, can you remember back to your local library in the late '70s and early '80s? Do you remember if the past issues of local and Maine newspapers were stored on microfiche, or did they just keep old editions of the papers themselves? Anyone remember?

I didn't grow up in Maine, and our local library had microfiche, but we were a college town, which made things a bit unusual. Anyone know if local smalltown public libraries had microfiche or not?

if i remember correctly , the maine state library is near the capitol in augusta next to the state museum
i remember looking at microfilm in the 80's

you can call the state library in augusta, maybe they have archives online

small town library?? dont think so,
but you can start with the state library first,, and ask them