Monson Free Public Library awarded grant from Maine Community Foundation
MONSON — Monson Free Public Library has been awarded an $11,000 Conservation for All grant from the Maine Community Foundation to further develop an outdoor gear library. The Conservation for All grant “invests in organizations and projects that build strong connections between people in Maine and our land and water.”
This gear library will engage the community by giving them access to outdoor equipment – cross-country skis, snowshoes, and hiking poles — to use on local trails, frozen lakes, and other outdoor venues. The goal is to connect individuals to local wilderness and improve the physical and mental health of community members as well as visitors to the area, helping to build value in preserving wild spaces in the Maine Highlands. This access to wilderness includes nearby “A Fierce Chase Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails” and a one kilometer wooded trail directly behind the library building. Already the gear library has helped create in-house library programming while adding to other events such as the Monson Snow Roller Day where community members skied and snowshoed on Lake Hebron. To note, items from the gear library can be checked out just like other library material.
Piscatquis County has the lowest median household income in the state of Maine and is also the least populated. With libraries being one of the last free spaces in any community, Monson Free Public Library is committed to providing resources to its patrons and will continue to diversify its library materials and program offerings, utilizing the gear library to attract and build patronage while looking for new opportunities to support those who live and visit the Maine Highlands region.
The Monson Free Public Library Association strives to inspire, enlighten, and enrich its members by connecting them to print resources, multimedia, and informational technologies needed for work, leisure, education, and inspiration by providing excellent service to its patrons and community.
Visit www.monsonmelibrary.org to learn more about hours, programs, and offerings.