Connecting Maine Libraries with Open Source Innovation

In 2007 a small group of central Maine librarians (TriCounty librarians) began to search for a replacement for their aging and no longer supported systems.

In 2008 Maine Balsam Libraries organized as 501(c)3 non-profit. Maine Balsam Libraries is a consortium providing Maine’s public, school, academic, and special libraries access to Evergreen, an open source Integrated Library System (ILS) to facilitate the management, cataloging, and circulation of library materials, as well as public access interface it helps patrons find those materials online.

In 2025 work began to migrate from Evergreen ILS to another open source ILS called Koha that will be hosted and maintained by ByWater Solutions.

On January 14th, 2026 we went live with our new Koha ILS!

Initial funding from a Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation grant.

Officers

Officers are elected biannually by the consortium. We have general meetings at least three times each year, and all of our members are encouraged to attend at least one of those meetings. We also have an executive committee which is elected by the general consortium.

1. Nancy Grant, President nbgrantme@gmail.com
2. Trisha Cantwell, Vice President Co-Director, Thorndike Library, College of the Atlantic | tcantwell@coa.edu
3. Chris Maas, Treasurer 207-924-4553 | chrism2666@gmail.com
4. Vacant, Secretary

Executive Committee

1. Nancy Grant, President, Balsam Consortium
2. Trisha Cantwell, Co-Director, Thorndike Library, College of the Atlantic
3. Chris Maas, Balsam Consortium Systems Director
4. Michelle Fagan, Children’s Librarian and KPAC, Thompson Free Library
5. Amy Ryder, District Librarian, Spruce Mountain RSU #73

Cataloging Committee

1. Andrea Koltai-Price, co-chair, Technical Services Librarian, Thompson Free Library
2. Hannah Stevens, co-chair, Technical Services Librarian, Thorndike Library, College of the Atlantic
3. Jeanne Benedict, Director, Henry D. Moore Library
4. Barbara Binotto, Katahdin Public Library
5. Trisha Cantwell, Co-Director, Thorndike Library, College of the Atlantic
6. Jon Knepp, Director, Thompson Free Library
7. Nancy Grant, President, Balsam Consortium
8. Amy Ryder, District Librarian, Spruce Mountain RSU #73
9. Andrea Stark, Monroe Community Library
10. Parker Smith, Director, Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library
11. Ish Talmadge, Balsam Consortium Superstar Volunteer