Edythe L. Dyer Community Library 269 Main Road North, Hampden, Maine 04444 • 207-862-3550 About the Library

History of the Library

The Hampden Regional Library was founded in 1971 by interested citizens. At that time it was established as a cooperative library between the local high school library and the public library. It was located in the high school library where it remained with the hope that a building of its own would someday be available.

That hope became a reality in 1983 when Edythe L. R. Dyer gave her home to the Town to be used as a public library. Mrs. Dyer was one of the interested citizens who initially formed the library. The residence was constructed in 1980 and 1981. Mrs. Dyer ordered the construction of a very large building because she intended to give the building to the Town upon her death. In 1983 she decided to gift the house to the Town during her lifetime so that she could observe it in use as a library. She moved to Mount Desert Island but came to visit as often as possible. She continued a steady correspondence with the library directors until she died on February 22, 1995, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.