Check out a Maine GearShare Pass at Curtis Memorial Library!

Now you can access FREE gear and equipment to help you connect to the outdoors!

Have you ever wished you and your loved ones could host an outdoor cookout, try out hiking, or even go winter camping and skiing for the weekend but didn’t have the gear to enable those outdoor experiences? Thanks to an innovative pilot program between Maine GearShare and Curtis Memorial Library, lack of gear doesn’t have to hold you back from exploring the great outdoors.

Starting in early June, you can borrow a Maine GearShare Pass from the library, check out Maine Gearshare equipment & go on an adventure.

How It Works

Curtis Memorial Library has two Maine GearShare passes available. Each pass can be used to gear up 2 adults and any children under 18 (up to 4 per adult) accompanying them on the trip.

This gear pass works just like a museum pass. Reserve the pass online for the week that you want to borrow the gear. Pick up your pass at the library sometime before your reservation. Your pass will have a special code that will allow you to reserve your gear online in advance for the duration of your pass. Alternatively,  you can just stop by Maine GearShare and grab the available gear without a reservation when its time to use your pass. However you choose to procure your gear, go to Maine GearShare to pick it up when it’s time to explore.

Maine Gearshare is a nonprofit outdoor gear lending library and repair shop located at 657 Old Portland Road, Brunswick, ME 04011. They are open Monday- Friday 9:00–4:00. You must borrow and return your gear during their hours the week you have the Maine GearShare pass, so plan accordingly.

When you bring your pass to Maine GearShare, their staff will outfit your crew with their gear at no cost to your team. Maine GearShare staff can help you find items in your size and advise you on what you may want to bring on your adventure.

This will start June 1st!!!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • My friends and I would love to go camping together and use this pass, but we’re all adults. Can we check out both passes?
    • One library card can only check out one pass. If you have two CML library cards you can check out 2 passes, one on each card.
  • Can I use the pass every other week?
    • To ensure many people get to try this service, each library card can use a pass once per season:
      • June, July & August – Summer
      • September, October & November – Fall
      • December, January & February- Winter
      • March, April & May – Spring
  • The Maine GearShare site lists prices. I thought you said this was free?
    • The public is able to rent gear from Maine GearShare at any time. Your special code on your pass will discount the costs (to FREE) for you when you have the library pass.
  • I’m new to accessing the outdoors in this way. Where do people go hiking, boating, fishing, camping, skiing or skating here?
    • Check out our resources below!

More Resources

Need inspiration? Drop by Maine GearShare’s open hours, ask the Library Help Desk for advice, or browse Maine GearShare’s inventory.

Check out these resources:

Stay tuned for future complementary programming to help you learn how to go on a hike, how to cook outdoors, and many other seasonal skills.