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~ The goal of the Warren Memorial Library is to provide a collection of materials appropriate to meet the informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs of community residents.

~ Children and Young Adults will be encouraged to develop an interest in reading and learning through a strong program of services.

~ We are strong advocates of literacy and hope to encourage reading as a family activity.

Description:
General Library Objectives

1. The Warren Memorial Library's primary objective is to assemble, preserve and administer, in organized collections, books and related educational and recreational interests in order to promote, through guidance and stimulation, the communication of ideas, an enlightened citizenship, and an enriched personal life.
   
   
2. Work with children shares the major objectives of the whole library. Its aim is to extend, cultivate, and encourage lifelong education, and to promote voluntary, individual enjoyment of reading by children through use of public library resources.
   
   
3. The Warren Memorial Library has a special responsibility in serving the informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs of community. As part of this program the library provides to:
   
   

History:
The Warren Memorial Library was started in 1879 for S. D. Warren Mill Employees. At that time it was known as just the mill library. Mr. Samuel D. Warren, president of the Warren Mill, opened the library in a small room over the company's main office. The Cumberland Mills section was, at that time, known as Ammoncongin.
It was there that men coming off duty on the machines could to to browse, read or relax after a hard day at work. The library could also be used by the mill employees' families. It was there that Samuel D. Warren gave every new book printed on Warren Paper not wanted in his personal library. The collection totaled one thousand books.
In 1894, Mrs. Susan B. Warren, wife of Samuel, who carried on the library work at the mill, bequeathed a fund for operation of the library and, in 1908, its growth forced removal to the present location, at 479 Main Street. On October 24, 1927, the Warren Company Board of Directors voted to turn over the mill library to the trustees, with the understanding that they would accept title and responsibility.** The facilities of the library were still available only to families of Warren employees until 1927, when they were open to the general public. At the time, the library was known as the Cumberland Mills Library. It was Susan Warren's will which set up the bequest for the Warren Memorial Foundation. It was Susan's son, Edward, and daughter, Miss Cornelia, in their turn benefactors of the Foundation, to see the library opened to the public. The Warren Memorial Library has been solely funded by the Warren Memorial Foundation and is offered as a free service to all Westbrook and neighboring communities.
Until the remodeling of the present building in 1951, the original appearance of the library was a vintage 1850, three story high, mud-brown, square, ungainly building with opaque, storefront windows. Its architectural design was fashioned after the more graceful Colonial-Williamsburg style. The library occupied the first floor along with a barber shop and restaurant. The second and third floor housed apartment dwellings.
Ms. Mary Goodell was our first Head Librarian from November 1927 until December 1940. Up until 1932, Miss Lucy A. Morse of Brookline, Massachusetts was authorized to purchase books at her discretion for the remainder of the year at the rate of $30 per month. Miss Jane L. Burbank, librarian of the public library in Portland, was requested to examine the Warren Library and the Westbrook City Library (Walker Memorial Library) with a view of reporting upon the former and making suggestions and recommendations. Mr. Reginald Goodell was empowered to make suitable arrangements for additional book space in the library. Beginning as soon as practical the library was to be open daily on week days from 1 to 8 p.m. Mr. Goodell was appointed a committee to investigate the matter of procuring an assistant to the librarian. Miss Muriel Burgen was hired as the library assistant. In 1930, the librarian was authorized to procure at an expense not exceeding 45 cents per hour the necessary assistance to put the books in proper condition as promptly as possible. The library was to be closed for one month in the summer of 1930 for this project.
In 1933, the board of trustees authorized the employment of Miss Julie Staniell of Boston to catalog the library. She was also authorized to employ such additional persons necessary to bring the cataloging to a reasonable state of completion in one year.
Miss Lucy Morse continued her book buying policy but that her policy be supervised by the head librarian.
In 1941, the Head Librarian was granted an indefinite leave of absence. From February 1941 to June 1942, Reginald Goodell became the head librarian. Muriel Burgen took over the position of head librarian in August of 1942.
Nancy Lane Hyde was director from June 1946 until March 1953. Norwood McDonald was director from April 1953 until July 1955. Joseph Small was director from July 1955 until November 1955. Myrtle Fuller was Director from November 1955 until October 1961. Janet Farley took the position over from January 1961 until July 1984. Ruth Abbiati, assistant librarian at the time Janet Farley left, took over the position of director from July 1984 until October 1995 followed by Anastasia S. Weigle. Jeffrey Christiansen is the present Director.

Contact people:

Wendy Hysko, Library Director, (phone), (email) Kathy Kigin, Children's Librarian, (phone)

Office fax number: (207) 854-5834

Address:

479 Main St. Westbrook, ME 04092 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.warren.lib.me.us/

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: Portland Metro Rt. 4 Westbrook, 3 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.portlandmaine.worldweb.com/Transportation/PublicTransit

Miscellaneous Information

This agency has United Way funded programs
	No
The agency places volunteers in these categories:
	Families, ages 11 -15, ages 15 - 18, Physically disabled, Groups, Adults