The Chase Emerson Memorial Library grew out of the Jennings Library established in 1906 and the Library Sewing Circle, a women’s group in Deer Isle in the early 1900s. Most of our early history has been lost but in1929 Chase Emerson Memorial Library was established. The library was named after a famous Boston artist, but he did not contribute financially to the library and never lived permanently on Deer Isle. We do have four of his landscape paintings and a photo of the artist donated by his nephew in the early 1950’s. The town of Deer Isle has supported the library since 1928, shortly before its incorporation. In the last fifty years the library has benefited from many grants, including from the Belledeu Family Legacy, the Davis, Rudman, and Stephen and Tabitha King Foundations. In 1998 we received a substantial contribution from the Sussman family which enabled us to put an addition on the back of the library, install a bathroom and add central heat. This room has one of the most beautiful views on the island. The library has also received grants to weatherize our windows, install a handicap accessible entrance, digitize our collection, renovate our meeting room and install a new furnace. Most recently we received a grant from the King Foundation to insulate the building (roof?) and purchase a generator which allows us to be open when the electricity is out. We also received funding from the Maine State Library to increase our co-working capacity. We have a new patio, an awning that stretches over our deck, outside electrical outlets and laptop computers that can be borrowed.