The Bangor Public Library was founded in 1921 by the Bangor Women’s Club. After many years of fundraising the library was finally opened to serve Bangor and the surrounding economic community. The library was a cultural focus of the community.

The library was located on North First Street - next to the current police station - in a building that has since been torn down. The library moved two more times by 1939. In 1940 the library moved to our current location at the corner of Broadway, South Main and Erdman Avenue. This building was built in 1890 as the home of the Merchants National Bank of Bangor. The cost of the original building was $6,400. In 1939 Robert Steinmetz gave the building to the Borough of Bangor to be used as a public library and as the home of the Bangor Women’s Club. Due to lack of space the Women’s Club no longer meets in the building.

The Bangor Public Library serves a population of 18,745 residents of the Bangor Area School District. This statistic is based on the 2000 census and will undoubtedly go up as the 2010 census is completed.

Funding is received from Bangor Borough - $8,000 per year plus utilities, Portland Borough - $250 per year, East Bangor - $1,000 per year, Upper Mount Bethel Township - $9,000, Roseto Borough - $0, Washington Township - $6,500. The library received $0 from the BASD and $1,000 from the Bangor Women’s Club. State aid for the past year was $25,980.

For the Bangor Public Library to continue to receive state aid the library must raise and spend a minimum of $5 per person. This money must be raised from local sources. As you can see the donations from the municipalities are not enough to meet the minimum. All financial donations are greatly appreciated and necessary to continue to provide library service to our community.

The benefits of state aid can be seen in the Access Pennsylvania program and interlibrary loan. Access Pennsylvania allows our residents with library cards to go to many other public libraries across the state and check out materials directly from that library. Interlibrary loan allows our residents to request a book and that book will be sent here for our patron’s use. With both programs the material can be returned to the Bangor Public Library. State aid also provides access to the POWER Library. POWER Library is a multitude of databases - provided free of charge to our patrons. All you need is a library card and access to the Internet. POWER Library can be accessed from the library or it can be accessed from your home internet. These three programs are the biggest benefits of state aid for our patrons.

The Friends of the Bangor Public Library are a group dedicated to promoting the Bangor Public Library in the community and raising money to support the library. The Friends are involved in book sales, bake sales, quilt raffles, house tours, and various other activities to promote the library.

The Friends meet at the library on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. New members are always welcomed and encouraged to come and participate.

Preschool story time is held on Tuesdays at 10am throughout the year. The child must be at least three years of age to participate.  Pre-registration is not required. For further information call the library.

SUMMER READING - The theme of this year's summer reading program will be Dig into Reading!  There will be different times for different age groups.  Preschool summer story time will be Tuesdays 10-11am, K-3rd grade will be announced, 4-6th grades will be announced.  All programs will begin the week of June 24 and run through August 10, 2013.

The Bangor Public Library is a place to make a memorial or a gift which will continue to provide benefit to the community. Your tax deductible contribution to celebrate a special day or remember a loved one will be a lasting and meaningful addition to the library's collection. Donations are always greatly appreciated by the library.

Internet access is available at the Bangor Public Library. Access is open to everyone in the Slate Belt area. Copies of the complete rules and policy statements are available at the library. Policy statement must be abided by or the privilege will be withdrawn from the individual. Written permission is required before access is allowed to anyone.

Anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent come in to the library, review the rules and procedures, and sign the form.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

ACCEPTABLE USE AND POLICY GUIDELINES

AT BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

Bangor Public Library is pleased to announce Internet access to all residents of the Slate Belt.  Access to the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of this privilege.  The Internet will be used in conjunction with the traditional books and reference works already housed in the library.

 

Please read the following rules and guidelines before registering to use the Internet.

 

1. Bangor Public Library will provide Internet access to all residents of the Slate Belt registered to use the service.  Patrons of the library must have no overdue books or outstanding fines to register for and/or use the Internet.

 

2. The Internet will provide access to different types of information for the primary purposes of education, research and lifelong learning.

 

3. A filter has been installed on both internet computers.  If you need an unfiltered site please see the Librarian.

 

4. Internet access will NOT include access to chat rooms.  Interactive Chat and instantmessagingare not permitted. This includes chat in game sites.  Web-based e-mail is allowed on the system.

 

5. Office applications are available such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint.

 

6. Users may not alter files or install software.

   7.   You may use only the floppy disks or CD-Rs that the library provides. If the disk is removed from the  library, it may not be reused. Disks and CD-Rs are $1.00 each. The library does not assume responsibility for any damage to a patron’s disk or computer, or for any loss of data.

 

8. Connections may fail or computers may “freeze”.  Such occurrences are unfortunate, but the library is not responsible for any losses due to computer operation, viruses or other equipment failure.  Also note that Internet sites may be unavailable at times due to technical difficulties.

 

9. The information over the Internet might not always be the most accurate or reliable. The Bangor Public Library accepts no responsibility for any damages resulting from use of this service. The Library advises every user to use critical judgment and expert verification when using Internet information to make important decisions.

 

10. The Library may monitor usage and reserves the right to terminate a session if, in the library’s sole judgment, the session is creating a disturbance.

 

11. While every attempt is made to keep all information passing to and from our systems private, you must assume that any information that you transmit or receive may not be private.  The Library does not monitor normal usage of the system.  However, the Library will fully cooperate with any authority in investigation of illegal activity and may turn over logs and records upon receipt of proper orders or subpoenas.  The Electronic Communications Act of 1986, the Telecommunications Act of 1998 and the USA Patriot Act contain important privacy and confidentially information.

 

12. One hour registration is permitted.  Registration time will be on the quarter hour.  If you sign up at 10:05 (as an example) your signup time will be 10:15.  If no one is waiting, then the patron may continue using the Internet.  The Internet may also be reserved by calling in advance and scheduling a time.  If you do not arrive within ten (10) minutes of your reserved time, your time will be forfeited.

 

13. Bangor Public Library personnel have the right to limit the number of users at any terminal and to request that the users work quietly.

 

14. Food and drink are not allowed in the computer areas.

 

15. Bangor Public Library will charge $.25 per page when printing information off the Internet.  The charge will be on every page you print so be careful what you print.

 

16. In the event that you experience difficulty in using the computer or this service, IMMEDIATELY contact the Library staff.

 

17. Bangor Public Library staff will provide limited assistance at the present time.  Internet reference materials are available to provide assistance to the user. 

 

18. At the first offense of this policy a patron will be denied internet use for two weeks.   If the patron has a second offense, internet privileges will be removed for two months.  After the third offense, internet privileges will be terminated permanently.

 

19. Rules and procedures for Internet access may be formulated or revised at any time.  Changes will be posted near the Internet computer.

 

 

 

 

 

CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

 

1. All of the above rules also apply to children’s access to the Internet.

 

2. Patrons accessing websites depicting or discussing information that by Pennsylvania State Law is considered “harmful to minors” will be asked to close them down.

 

Pennsylvania Obsenity Statute – 18 Pa. C.S. 5903 reads:

            “Harmful to minors” involves materials or performances that involve explicit sexual materials that depict nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and appeal predominately to prurient, shameful or morbid interest of minors, is offensive to the prevailing standards in the adult community and taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational or scientific value for minors.

 

3. Children under the age of 16 must have parental permission to use the Internet.  The parent or guardian must be present at the library to review the rules and sign the consent form.

 

4. It is the responsibility of the parent, and not the Library, to monitor the use of the Internet by their child.

 

 

The intent of the Internet Policy is to protect both the freedom and rights of the individual (adult and child) in his or her pursuit of education and information.  The Library recognizes that these policies do not solve or end the issue of inappropriate Internet use.  They do serve as guidelines for users and staff.  These policies do not supersede or eliminate the parental responsibility with regard to monitoring children’s Internet use.

 

Rev. 6/14/2010

If you are unable to locate the material you desire at the Bangor Public Library there are two options:

Option one: with a valid library card, living in the Bangor Area School District, and have an Access PA sticker on your card, you can go to another library in the state which is part of the Access program and check out books directly from the library.  The books may then be dropped off at Bangor Public Library to be returned to the lending library.

Option two: Interlibrary loan is available where we will search for the book and it will be sent to the Bangor Public Library. You can then come in to Bangor Library and pick up and book and return it here.  This option is available to everyone who has a library card.

Items become overdue at closing time on their due date. Every day at closing time all items not yet returned but due that day are considered overdue. If the item is put in the book drop after the library has closed for the day the item will not be checked in until the next day making the item one day late. Fines do not accumulate on days the library is closed.

Please do not place books in plastic bags inside book drop.  The bag of books will block other books from being returned. 

Please do not place book donations in the book drop.  Please bring book donations to the library during library hours.

Bangor Public Library receives State Aid.  During the 2010-2011 year the library received $25,980 in State Aid.

Funding is received from municipalities comprising the Bangor Area School District.

Much of the library's funding comes through donations.

Bangor Public Library serves the communities in the Bangor Area School District.  If you live in Bangor Borough, East Bangor Borough, Portland, Roseto, Upper Mount Bethel Township, Washington Township and the section of Lower Mount Bethel in the Bangor Area School District you are able to get a card from Bangor Public Library at no charge. 

To receive your first library card you will need to bring identification and proof of residency.  A current driver's license is acceptable.  If that is not available, a lease agreement, bank statement or a utility bill will also be accepted.  Your first library card is free.  If the card is lost there will be a $5 replacement fee.  The library card must be presented each time you come in to check anything out.

If you live in Pen Argyl there is a non-resident fee that must be paid.  The fee is $35 for a family and $25 for a single card for the first year.  Year year thereafter the fee will be $25 for a family and $15 for a single card.  If you live in Pen Argyl but work for the Bangor Area School District you can get a card at no charge.

The Bangor Public Library observes the following holidays and will be closed

New Years Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

The objective of the Bangor Public Library is to furnish full library service free to all the citizens of the Borough of Bangor and the citizens residing in the Bangor Area School District.

Summer Story Time 2013 will run from the week of June 24 through August 10.  Preschool story time will be Tuesdays 10-11am.  There will be prizes, stories, games, songs, and other activities - and did I mention prizes!  Come and join the fun this summer.  The theme is "Dig into Reading."  Watch for further details as they become available.