Home → Services for the General Public
Services for the Public
The following services from the Maine State Library (MSL) are available wherever there is Internet access.
Books/Audio books/eBooks
- MSL Patrons
- Statewide Patrons
- MaineCat: a statewide library catalog
- Download Library for eBooks and audio books
- Getting started with eBooks
- Where to get free downloadable ebooks
- Outreach Services
- Books by Mail: a service for those without local libraries or those who are homebound
- Large Print Books: a service for those without local libraries or those who are homebound.
- Talking Books Plus Catalog of large print books, audio books and descriptive videos for the visually and physically impaired
- NLS BARD: a catalog of downloadable audio books for the visually and physically impaired
- Your Outreach Services library record
Electronic Resources Provided for Maine State Library Card Holders
- RefUsa: a business database accessed with your library card barcode.
- Heritage Quest: a genealogy database accessed with your library card barcode.
- Civil War Documents: a set of historical and genealogical databases. Contact the reference desk for access
Electronic Resources for all Maine Residents
- MARVEL: Maine's virtual reference collection
- OneSearch: a gateway to most of the MARVEL resources and more
Electronic Resources Created by State Library Staff
- Maine Writers Database: brief biographies and selected bibliographies
- Find a Maine Library: directories of public, school and academic libraries in Maine
- Maine Notables: brief biographies of well known Mainers
- Genealogy sources: tips for using the materials the State Library offer
Suggested Internet Resources
- Maine Answers Tough Times: a list of support services in Maine
- HelpMELaw: Maine legal help resource
- KeepMEWell: Maine health care resource
- Suggested web sites on a variety of topics
- Maine Government: most popular resources
- Read Maine poems, selected by Wesley McNair, Maine's Poet Laureate
Online Forms and Information Requests
- Register for a library card
- Renew a book
- Request an obituary
- Register for a class
- Contact Us
- Ask a Librarian
- Hours and directions
- Apply for Talking Books Plus (must print, include original signature, and mail in)
Visit the Maine State Library to:
- View most Maine State Library Special Collections
- Check out and return books
- Use microfilm of Maine Newspapers, Sanborn Maps, Surname index etc.
- Consult Library Use Only materials
- Search Ancestry.com
- Use the vertical file of newspaper articles, pamphlets etc.
- Consult with librarians on in depth research needs
- Use Skype to video phone your family, friends and colleagues
- Attend classes and programs
