A corporate grant to the Monhegan Island (Me.) Memorial Library is meeting resistance from Bill Payne, a local resident who fears encroaching dependence on outside money. The Maine-based financial-services company MNBA has given the library several small grants earmarked for specific improvements, including $2,200 for a comprehensive inventory of its catalog. According to the March 21 Boston Globe, Payne began protesting in front of the library in late February with a sign arguing that the gift undermined the community’s autonomy.
MNBA, one of Maine’s largest employers, has in the past few years also become Maine’s largest corporate philanthropist, directing much of its charity toward upgrading rural schools and libraries, the Globe reported.
In years past, Monhegan Island’s 70 year-round residents have declined offers of federal and state aid, citing similar fears of dependency. In this case, however, Payne appears to be fighting a lonely battle. Librarian Mary Beth Dolan said, “What’s been happening is, we ignore him. We say, ‘He’s just Billy.’”
Posted March 27, 2000.