Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program

We are excited to announce that the Lewiston Public Library has partnered with the Maine State Library and other libraries across the state to be a part of a one-year test for the Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program (MRBP). This pilot is designed to give patrons the ability to walk into any of the participating libraries, select an item off the shelf, and take an item home the same day with a valid library card.

Beginning on Monday,September 16th, the initiative will allow patrons to utilize their Lewiston library card at nearly 70 different libraries across the state instead of ordering an item and waiting for it to arrive. This system will make library materials more accessible and give ease of use to patrons who enjoy exploring other towns and libraries, work in other cities. or who do not want to wait as long to receive an item.

Many different types of libraries are participating in this program including college libraries, medical and law libraries, and of course public libraries so the range of materials will be just as expansive as the ones in the online catalog. We will have stickers that can be placed on your library card so you will be easily identifiable as a patron from a participating library and you must have your physical card with you to checkout at other libraries. Library materials can be returned to either the library from which it was borrowed OR here at Lewiston.

A list of participating libraries can be found on the Maine State Library’s website at: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/directories/reciprocal_borrowing_libraries.shtml or you can stop and pick-up a brochure from the library today.

Please contact the Lending department at 207-513-3134 or lplcirc@gmail.com for further information and inquiries.