Dover-Foxcroft library cards now free for nonresidents thanks to ‘sizable’ gift

Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is offering free library cards to all residents of Piscataquis and Penobscot counties after receiving a large donation.

The “sizable” gift of an undisclosed amount comes from Paula Willoughby, Jon Knepp, director of the Thompson Free Library said in a news release.

Library cards have always been free for residents of Dover-Foxcroft and available to nonresidents for $20 per family, per year. “But the amount received is a small part of the library’s revenue, more a barrier to entry than a crucial income stream,” Knepp said.

Nonresidents will still be able to choose to pay the $20 per year fee, but that money, along with any other donations, will now be reinvested in the library fund.

Willoughby grew up in Mexico, Maine, and earned a degree in Home Economics from the UMaine Orono in 1961, according to a bio provided by Knepp. She was a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, lived in various parts of the country and worked in food research and development, as a caterer, and as an interior decorator before retiring to make and sell jewelry, ultimately settling in Arizona.

“Paula kept her connection to Maine with visits to her family members and by eating blueberry pie and lobster rolls wherever she could find them,” Knepp said. “She was a generous, fun-loving lady who enjoyed new things; making her an interesting person to know and with whom to share time.”

Knepp said he believes the gift will be able to cover the lost revenue from non-resident fees and give more people in the region access to the library.

“This is increasingly important to us, as fewer small towns have their own library. Dover-Foxcroft is the shiretown of Piscataquis County and the heart of the region,” he said.