Research Resources and Assistance

Do you need to conduct research?

Library staff are available in person and over the telephone (207-513-3135) to help patrons conduct their own research using a variety of online resources that can be accessed from home and inside the library.

• All services featured on our digital services website LibraryLA.org are available for use free of charge with your LPL or APL library card.
• Online resources related to local history and genealogy can be found on our Lewiston History and Genealogy pages.
• Research resources provided by the Maine State Library for use free of charge by all library patrons within the state can be found on the Digital Maine Library.

Library staff are also on hand to help patrons conduct their own research using physical resources – like microfilm and archival materials – that are available inside the library building only.

 

LPL Research Services

In cases where there are significant barriers to accessing the library’s research resources, library staff will conduct research on a patron’s behalf according to the following fee schedule:

First half hour: $15

Please note:

• The fee for the first half hour of research will be waived for LPL and APL card holders.
• This fee covers staff time and cannot be refunded if the library’s resources do not yield the information the patron was seeking.

Many simple research requests (such as an obituary search of the local newspaper when the patron can provide a death date) can be filled within this time frame.

For more complex requests, if we are unable to complete the project within a half hour, we will provide you with whatever results we were able to compile within that time frame.

We will also provide you with an estimate of how much additional staff time would be required to complete the project.

Beyond the first half hour:

Those who decide to have us continue to research beyond the first half hour will be charged at a rate of $55 per hour, payable in advance, in one-hour increments.

 

To submit a research request

When submitting a research request, please include the following information:

• Your name
• Your contact phone number (in case we have any questions)
• Whether you are an LPL or APL card holder (If so, please include the 14-digit number on the back of your library card)
• How you would like to receive your research results
  • For a digital file, include your email address
  • For a paper copy, include your physical mailing address
• What you would like us to look for. Please be specific and include any information that might be helpful.

 

Research fees may be paid using the following methods:

Credit card:

• Credit card payments may be made over the phone by calling us at (207) 513-3135
• There is a $1 fee for charges of up to $40 or a 2.5% fee for charges of $41 or more

Personal check:

• Make your check payable to “Lewiston Public Library”
• Mail it with your research request to the library address listed below.

 

Research requests may be submitted via:

• Telephone – call us at (207) 513-3135
• Email – write to us at LPLReference@LewistonMaine.gov
• U.S. Postal Service – mail your request and payment to:

Adult Services Department

Lewiston Public Library

200 Lisbon Street

Lewiston, Maine 04240

If you have questions or need more information about submitting a research request, please contact the Adult & Teen Services Desk at (207) 513-3135 or LPLReference@LewistonMaine.gov.