The Bethel Historical Society's Research Library collects, preserves, organizes, and makes available to the public all forms of information relating to the region. Our holdings include books, pamphlets, diaries, letters, photographs, maps, atlases, gazetteers, scrapbooks, periodicals, audio/video recordings, microforms, and ephemera.  Particularly strong for the Bethel area, western Maine, and the White Mountain region of Maine and New Hampshire, these resources also include material relating to other New England States, eastern Canada, and various other parts of the U.S.

Photocopy Fees
Photocopying is permitted in some parts of the collection.  Photocopies are 25 cents for non-members and 10 cents for members.  No requests for complete copies of books, manuscripts, or genealogical folders/notebooks will be honored.  The Bethel Historical Society reserves the right to place other restrictions on certain portions of its collections, depending on the nature of the research, including, but not restricted to, possible publication. Responsibility for observance of copyright law rests with the patron.  Please note that the library collections are non-circulating.

Research-By-Mail
Because of its small staff, the Society is generally unable to respond to detailed requests for genealogical and/or historical information by mail. However, for a prepaid non-refundable fee of $10 per hour (maximum $30 per request), members of our Research Library Committee will search for specific information in appropriate catalogs, genealogies, town histories, cemetery records, published vital records, microfilmed newspapers, and directories.  We regret that we cannot search in unindexed manuscript material.  For each hour of contracted research, we will provide up to ten photocopies (additional copies will be 25 cents per sheet) of pertinent material and will advise you of the sources we've consulted.  In a letter (no e-mails, please), indicate clearly what information you are seeking, and list sources you have already checked.  A regular postal mailing address must be included with your remittance (made payable to the "Bethel Historical Society") and sent to the Society at P.O. Box 12, Bethel, ME 04217. Requests will be answered (usually within 4 to 6 weeks) in the order in which they are received.