McArthur Library

The old
and
the
new
The very first Biddeford Library was started back in 1863 but didn’t last long. A huge fire destroyed it and a large section of the town before the end of the century. Fortunately a wealthy patron of the arts decided a new library was needed.
So Robert McArthur left some money in his will and the new library was completed and ready for business in 1902. Like most of the libraries built at the time it was grand and elegant.
And like most of the libraries built at the time it proved to be too small and old fashion for use in the 21 first century. So a huge new addition was construction in 1996. Both parts are connected but are quite different in style and it’s obvious when you pass from one part to the other.
The old section has some impressive and extremely lovely staircases and some great old photos and displays. The new part is modern and has all the amenities expected in a practical library.
The juxtaposition of the two parts makes for a very interesting library. You can wander through the cool old parts and marvel at the architecture and huge hallways or stroll over to the modern part to find a book or do research.
For some bizarre reason most of the library is painted in a very strange pink color. Definitely unique but not the most aesthetically pleasing background. It does add to the distinctive ambiance of the library.
A very cool old building and a very practical and useful place to work. This is a library that manages to combine the best of the old and the new