Library sitting area overlooking the Narraguagus River

All members of the community are invited to use our lending library and attend library programming.

The Women’s Health Resource was founded by executive director, Chris Kuhni to provide the citizens of Downeast Maine with quality health education materials and programming. Kuhni, a women’s health nurse practitioner, saw the acute need for a resource of this kind and assembled a group of volunteer and financial supporters to create this unique center.

We are also here in part because of the generous financial support of our corporate sponsors, Jasper Wyman and Sons, Mark Wright Disposal & Construction, Down East Community Hospital, and the many in-kind gifts from our ardent supporters. We thank you all.

The Women’s Health Resource Library is the first of its kind in the state of Maine. Designed to provide all women in Downeast, Maine with current, reliable health information,  the space was also designed for comfort. Several cozy seating areas, vibrant colors, homemade quilts, and cushy pillows invite guests to gather, linger and learn. The floor to ceiling windows offer spectacular views of the Narraguagus Bay.

This very special space was designed by Maine artist Carol Bass. Carol, the co-founder of Maine Cottage Furniture, donated the colorful furnishing as well as her design services. Local artists Joanne Halpin, Dorothy Somers-Pilloni, Sandra Priest, Janie Snider, Jeanne Driscoll, and Sarah Brandon all display artwork influenced by the natural beauty of Maine. The striking aqua colored rug that resembles tide pools is the work of Portland artist Angela Adams. Colorful pottery from Rhonda Friedman adds dimension to the mix. The fact that these contributions are from Maine women is no accident but rather an intentional move to highlight the creative opportunities available to women living in Maine.

Annie Santerre Memorial Garden

Facilities

• Meeting space during evenings & weekends – contact us for details
• Computers with WiFi Internet access
• Private viewing room for DVDs and videos
• Large screen television with DVD and VHS players
• Projector and screen

Collections

The WHRL holdings include volumes for borrowing on subjects such as:

• Health, Nutrition, and Well Being
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Depression
• Menopause
• Self-Help/Co-Dependency
• Spirituality
• Diabetes
• Addiction and Recovery
• Parenting
• Women’s Studies
• Adolescent Issues
• Healthy Recipes

Periodicals

• Spirituality and Health
• Eating Well
• Mothering
• Vegetarian Times
• Light of Consciousness
• Ms.
• Alternative Medicine
• Consumer Reports on Health
• Natural Health
• Mayo Clinic Health Letter
• Arthritis Today
• Diabetes Forecast
• Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor
• FDA Consumer
• Coping with Cancer
• Harvard Health Letter
• Orion
• Shape en Espanol
• Prevention en Espanol
• Hispanic Magazine
• New Moon
• Harvard Women’s Health Watch
• Harvard Men’s Health Watch
• Nutrition Action Health Letter
• Health Tufts University Health & Nutrition
• HealthNews