The Lithgow Library today represents the intellectual history of the city, but organized literary and intellectual activities in the town date to 1817 when a group of young men established a reading room and social library. This group reorganized in 1819 under the name Augusta Union Society, with the objective of improving knowledge by making newspapers, magazines and books available. Ironically, historical accounts note the best library in Augusta [in the early nineteenth century] was at Cony Female Academy. The first official act of the newly formed State of Maine (1820) was to recognize the Augusta Union Society. From the time the Society dissolved, until the formation of the Lithgow Library in 1882, the intellectual pursuits of Augusta citizens were supported by two other reading societies: the Shakespeare Club and the Augusta Literary Library Association. Club membership was for both ladies and gentlemen; they read the –best books" and met in each others' homes. The Literary Library Association (formed in 1872) provided the city with a library, a reading room, and literary and scientific lectures. All citizen had access to the services by paying a subscription fee. The first librarians for the Association was Miss Emma S. Sawin (April 1873 to November 1876); Miss Julian M. Clapp followed Miss Sawin in the position.

 The Lithgow Library Trustees first met in February 1882, and the following year took over the assets and debts of the Literary Association. Llewellyn W. Lithgow, who founded and endowed the library, had been a lifetime member of the Literary Association. His endowment supported the early Lithgow Library and Reading Room, which functioned as the town library before construction of the present-day building. Miss Clapp was also the first librarian of the newly formed Lithgow Library and Reading Room, which opened September of 1882. The library hours were week-day afternoons and Saturday evenings. All citizens of the town had the right to borrow books for home reading after payment of a yearly one-dollar fee. In 1891, Lithgow Library Trustees joined the city to enlarge and sustain the library, and a campaign was begun to build the current building. Charles F. Alden (from Clinton, Iowa) was the first to respond to the campaign with a $1,000 contribution in memory of his mother, Bethia S. N. Alden. The first alcove was named in her honor. Andrew Carnegie contributed $9,000, and citizens of Augusta contributed the rest. Construction of the granite Romanesque-Renaissance style building began in May 1894, and it was dedicated in 1896. Of particular note in the reading room is a portrait of Mrs. Abigail Gage, wife of a prominent businessman and politician Joshua Gage. Abigail died in 1856 at age 90. Miss Clapp continued as librarian in the new building and worked for 47 years, retiring in 1924. Miss Elizabeth M. Andrews and Miss Isie Fletcher (as assistant) followed Miss Clapp. A traveling library to benefit rural schools was in place by 1930, and a children's library established shortly thereafter. (A children's reading hour had been in place since 1927.) Miss Beatrice Palmer was the first children's librarian and children's hours (beginning in 1931) were 2 - 6 p.m. every weekday and 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. Other women who served the library early on were Miss Virginia Hill (adult section librarian, 1934), Mrs. Donald L. Giddings (assistant librarian, 1934), Mrs. Marinda Nye (children's librarian, 1935), and Mrs. Anne C. Reardon (children's librarian, 1936). In November of 1936, a special collection of French books was added. Today, Elizabeth Pohl is Library Director, and fourteen of the seventeen member staff (includes part time staff) are women and girls.

 

Site #29.1 Sources:

	Augusta, Maine Sesquicentennial. Special reprint of Daily Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine, Sesquicentennial Edition, Wednesday, July 30, 1947.
	Douin, Anthony. Interviews by and conversations with Phyllis vonHerrlich, 18 October 2001, Augusta, Maine.
	Lithgow Library Staff. Brief interview by Phyllis vonHerrlich. 8 September 2001, Augusta, Maine.
	North, James W. The History of Augusta Maine. Somesworth, NH: New England History Press, 1981. New forward by Edwin A. Churchill. Originally published in 1870 by Clapp and North of Augusta, ME.