Library Conversations: Celebrating our Past, Envisioning our Future

The Mechanics’ Hall library is a membership library, created by and for its members. While our founders may not have foreseen e-books and virtual events, our tradition of creating a community space that shares a love of craft and knowledge endures. Help us build the library that you want and learn what the library can offer you, from bestsellers to top-notch programming to discovering your next favorite hobby. Join Librarian Jules Olson, co-chair of the Library Committee Tom Haushalter, and Executive Director Annie Leahy for a conversation about the library, followed by a Q&A. This event will be of particular interest to current Mechanics’ Hall members but all encouraged to attend. 

This event is being held on two dates at different times to accommodate the varying schedules of our members: March 10 at noon and again on March 24 at 5:30. Please come to whichever event works best for you- the same content will be covered at each.

Email us at library@mainemechanics.org to receive the Zoom link to this event.

Julie Olson is the librarian at Mechanics’ Hall in Portland, Maine. Prior to joining Mechanics’ Hall, Jules worked in a variety of libraries, most recently at Lithgow Public Library and the Maine State Law and Legislative Library, both in Augusta, Maine. Olson received her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Alabama and her B.A. from Bard College and has long been a maker and educator. She particularly enjoys creating textiles, music, and mixed media art.

Tom Haushalter is the co-chair of the Mechanics’ Hall Library Committee. Tom arrived in Portland in January of 2019 with his wife and daughter from Windsor, Vermont where he served as president of trustees of the Windsor Public Library. He oversaw the resurgence of their community programming, expanded fundraising, and led a major building restoration project, among other delicate needs of the library’s historic building. Tom’s professional background spans book publishing, healthcare, and software startups – largely in a marketing and communications capacity. He recently joined the marketing team at Covetrus. His craft? He’s a poet, writer and sometimes orator…not to mention a home-brewer of fine kombuchas!

Annie Leahy is the inaugural Executive Director of Mechanics’ Hall. Annie has over 20 years of experience working at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She has held senior positions in New York City at ABC News and the Tribeca Film Institute. She was a part of the founding staff of the Tribeca Film Festival, bringing cultural activity back to downtown Manhattan after 9/11 and working to program global perspectives on the Middle East through cinema, combating xenophobia through cultural programming. She moved to Portland, Maine in 2009 as the Executive Producer and Director of Programming for PopTech in Camden, Maine. In addition to her role at Mechanics’ Hall she currently services on the board of directors at SPACE and is also on the advisory board for Portland Bach Experience.

Membership with Mechanics’ Hall is free for students and starts at just $50 a year for individual memberships, which includes use of the library, free and discounted access to programs, and much more. Consider becoming a member today and help support programs like this.