Witherle Memorial Library

For over 160 years, the Witherle Memorial Library has served the public in the town of Castine, Maine, and its environs by providing diverse informational, recreational, and educational resources for all age groups. Housed in a beautiful Beaux Arts facility built in 1913, the Witherle combines traditional qualities of personal service provided by well-trained staff in a comfortable setting with the latest tools in online research and materials access. The library is part of Castine’s historic district listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Whether you wish to tour a landmark, peruse the collection, check your email using high-speed internet, attend a program or book discussion, or simply enjoy a quiet place to read, you are welcome at the Witherle.

Wednesday Summer Series: Future Trends

What does the future hold for all of us? Do we have any say in what happens in the future? What is going to happen with money—will we still use it in coming years or will it all be in bitcoins? Will we give up talking to each other altogether or find neutral places where we still can? How many of us will be around in 30 years? How will we deal with global warming? How long will we live? Who will drive our cars and public transportation? Will extremists take over the planet? Will anyone still go to church?

There are so many unanswered questions and there are lots of possible answers. The library will offer five sessions on future trends on several Wednesday nights from 5 to 6 PM. The discussions will take place in the library’s Reading Room.

To initiate the series Professor Howell Jackson JD will lead a discussion about the future of money. There are articles to read to prepare for the discussion. The Rev. Tim Hall will lead a discussion on Palaces for the People: How social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. Please pre-register for that and all of the other sessions so we can order copies of the materials for you on interlibrary loan in enough time for you to read them. Professor Barbara Fleck is a strong proponent of consuming less and finding new ways to dispose of necessary waste. Dr. Bill Eisenhardt will lead the discussion on projections for population growth or decline. And Rev. Bobby Vagt will cover a range of possible future topics in his discussion on Yuval Harari’s book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. You will need to pre-register for that as well.

Wendy Knickerbocker

December 9, 1948 – June 8, 2019

It is with great sadness that the Witherle Memorial Library announces the death of its Board Chair, Wendy Knickerbocker, after a year-long illness. A Maine native, Wendy contributed to arts and letters throughout her life, working and volunteering wholeheartedly on behalf cultural, historical, and conservation institutions. Her wisdom, keen editorial eye, and dedication will be missed.

Welcome to Maine’s Oldest Municipal Library

Wednesday Summer Series: Future Trends

Wendy Knickerbocker

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