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The Camden Garden Club’s 76th Annual Garden Tour will take place, rain or shine, Thursday, July 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, the Tour will feature the extraordinary interior and gardens of the 1887 summer castle by the sea, which became the Norumbega Inn. In addition, there will be other Rockport and Camden gardens featuring lush perennial borders, unique color combinations for the garden, and sustainable horticulture with native plantings. For the first time, the 66-acre Merryspring Nature Center will be a part of the Tour with its beautiful display gardens and arboretum of native trees.
To complement the visual beauty of the tour, talented local gardeners will present a selection of immersive exhibits. The presentations include Framed Flower Art, Hypertufa Demonstration, Dahlia Workshop, Active Native Plant Growing, and From Seed to Bottle; Making Salve from an Organic Maine Garden. Each home will also host award-winning local musicians.
The Club will welcome a roster of new and returning musicians. The performance times and locations will be announced before Tour day. Plein air painter, Cassie Sarno – a contemporary, realist painter – will be the featured artist joined by other painters at locations across the Tour.
Since its beginning in 1948, the Tour has been the highlight of the Camden summer season. The first Tour featured 10 private gardens throughout Camden and it has continued every year since then except 2020.
Purchase your tickets for the 76th Annual Garden Tour today at the Camden Public Library circulation desk!
We regret to inform you that interlibrary loan (ILL) will be temporarily halted beginning Monday, June 10th.
The Maine State Library has alerted us to expect an interruption of interlibrary loan delivery through at least the second week of August (six weeks from July 1st). Unfortunately, this is the result of a contract dispute with the van delivery service and the legal process is completely out of our hands.
Camden Public Library patrons can still utilize our Reciprocal Borrowing agreements with local public libraries (such as Rockport, Rockland, and Belfast) to check out their materials in person with an active Camden Library card.
We apologize for the inconvenience and truly wish we could do something more about it!
If you have any questions about this interruption of interlibrary loan service, please visit the Maine State Library’s FAQ’s website and feel free to contact Beth Crist, Director of Special Projects, and Lori Fisher, State Librarian, with any questions or comments: beth.crist@maine.gov, 207-287-9581; or lori.fisher@maine.gov, 207-287-5604.
Have you wondered what is has been going on lately on the third floor? Last year, Camden Public Library was awarded a grant through the “Remote Work through Libraries” initiative from the Maine State Library. The grant will be used to make the third-floor Reading room more remote-work-friendly, while preserving the space’s unique historic character. There will be intermittent work on the third floor until the project is complete, but disruption should be minimal going forwards.
The goal of the project “Re-Working the Reading Room” is to better provide working space for those in the community that need it. This includes the addition of a restroom on the third floor, better access to electrical outlets, seating improvements, and more.
We thank you for your patience as we make these exciting changes.
The grant is part of Governor Janet Mills’ $2 million Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan and the “Remote Work through Libraries” initiative from The Maine State Library and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The Camden Public Library is one of 39 libraries in the state to receive funding through this program, which will support Maine libraries’ capacity to provide targeted resources, services, and physical space to support remote and hybrid workers across the state.
Camden Public Library is proud to announce that it will be a Local Program Partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the world’s preeminent early childhood book-gifting program. Children aged 0 to 5 in Knox County can now sign up to receive an age-appropriate book every month, delivered to their home for free.
Families can register their child through the Imagination Library website or by clicking here.
Local donors are generously underwriting half the cost of Camden Public Library’s affiliate program, and Maine State Library is funding the rest. Participating in the Imagination Library is always completely free for families.
“We are thrilled to offer this program to the children of Knox County,” says Nikki Maounis, former Executive Director of Camden Public Library. “One of our most important missions is to create and nurture young readers and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helps us to accomplish just that.”
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted well over 182 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. The Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring children to dream more, learn more, care more and be more. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
The Camden Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce Kristy Kilfoyle as the new Executive Director. Kilfoyle was hired after an extensive search and will be joining the library in June. “We are thrilled to welcome Kristy to our community. Her enthusiasm, leadership skills and love of learning will be a great asset to the library,” said Board President Kristen Smith.
Kilfoyle earned her Master’s in Library Science from Indiana University Bloomington and also holds a Master’s in Children’s Literature from Hollins University. She has spent the last seven years as the Director of Libraries at Canterbury School, a private college prep school in Fort Myers, FL. Prior to that, she worked for the Lee County Library System in Southwest Florida, where she held several roles, as Youth Services Librarian, Senior Librarian and Programming Coordinator for the 14-branch library system.
Kristy and her husband, Rich, and their children, Fiona and James, are eager to become a part of the Camden community. “When my husband and I planned a trip up the coast of Maine 15 years ago, everyone said that a stop at the Camden Public Library was a must. I’m overjoyed that we’re not just visiting but coming to stay,” said Kristy.
Kilfoyle was honored to serve on the 2022 Newbery Award Medal Committee, charged with selecting the most distinguished children’s book published in the United States. She is a member of the American Library Association, the Association for Library Service to Children, Young Adult Library Services Association, and Southwest Florida Library Network. She has also served on the board of SWFLN, the American Association of School Librarians Bound to Stay Bound Travel Grant Committee, ALSC’s Managing Children’s Services Committee, and ALSC’s Batchelder Award Medal Committee (2012) for distinguished translation of a children’s book.
The Camden Public Library has been fortunate to have exemplary leadership over the last 16 years from retiring executive director Nikki Maounis. Under the direction of Kristy Kilfoyle, we anticipate the library will continue to succeed and provide outstanding service to the community.
The Camden Public Library is “Reaching for the Stars” during National Library Week, April 7-13. With a partial solar eclipse taking place in Camden on the Monday of National Library Week, this year’s celebration offers a unique moment in time to recognize our nation’s libraries; highlight library workers’ contributions; and encourage library use and support.
It is also a significant moment in the career of Executive Director Nikki Maounis.
“This will be my last National Library Week at the Camden Public Library as I approach a new chapter of my own, later this spring,” Maounis said. “That certainly makes it a memorable time for me personally.”
The library will focus on a special theme during each day of the week, including the Library Staff, coinciding with the historic Solar Eclipse; the Walsh History Center; Young Readers; Lifelong Learners; the Parks; and a Day of Honor. It’s all part of the annual celebration of National Library Week, which highlights the valuable role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
To prepare for the April 8 partial solar eclipse, two programs will be offered in advance: On Fri., April 5, from 4 to 5 p.m., Amy Hand will lead a pinhole eclipse viewer-making workshop for all ages in Picker Room. Then on Sat., April 6, at 4 p.m., Edward Herrick-Gleason, Director of Southworth Planetarium, will present “The GREAT Eclipse.”
A few highlights of National Library Week include theWalsh History Center Hour on Zoom, Tue., April 9, at 1 p.m.; two children’s offerings on Wed., April 10: Booktime for Babies sing-along and storytime at 10 a.m. and a special partner read-aloud storytime with Miss Amy and Miss Stef at 3 p.m.; “In a Class All Their Own: Unique and Historic Boats of New England,” with Tom Verde on Thu., April 11, at 6:30 p.m., part of Maritime Month; and the popular “Foraging for Edible Mushrooms,” with Greg Marley, Sat., April 13, at 1 p.m. Browse the full week’s schedule at librarycamden.org.
In additional, all month long, the featured Maritime Month exhibit in the Picker Room Gallery will be “Jim Moore: Midcoast Correspondent” from the Penobscot Marine Museum’s collection.
To keep such programs and multi-generation outreach strong, the library is working to raise $57,350 by the end of the fiscal year.
“As we ‘reach for the stars,’ I have a special request,” Maounis said. “If you appreciate the work that this library does in our community and the efforts our amazing staff, please consider donating during National Library Week. Every dollar you give will make a tangible difference right here, where we read, connect, and discover together.”
Donations can be made in-person at the library; by mail to the “Camden Public Library Fund” at 55 Main St., Camden, ME 04843; or online at the library’s website at librarycamden.org/donate.
Some of you may already know that Nikki Maounis is retiring in early May.
“I am resigning my position as Executive Director as of May 1 and will move on to my next chapter. After 16 years of service at the Camden Public Library, it’s time for my library colleagues to take it from here.
It has truly been my honor to both lead and contribute to the tremendous work that the library does on behalf of the greater Camden community. To be able to bring this library firmly into the digital age, and help sustain one of Maine’s busiest and best, has brought me a great deal of personal satisfaction. Thank you for the opportunity to guide this very special library through these many years – and through the best and worst of times. It has been a privilege to work with and for all of you.”
The public is invited to stop by Nikki’s office for coffee and cake on Friday afternoon, April 26, any time from 12 – 4 pm, to wish Nikki well as she takes this next step. We hope to see you there!
After twenty years of service, Ken Gross retired from the Library staff at the end of February, 2024. Ken started at the Library as part-time program director, planning, promoting, and hosting all the adult programs at the library in 2004. Programs, then as now, included authors and poets, of course, and also artists, musicians, historians, actors, environmentalists, naturalists, architects, gardeners, health counselors, book clubs, writing classes, and travelers and experts from all over. Ken also hosted a long-running Coffeehouse series at the library and an ongoing Songwriters series.
In addition to filling the Library’s calendar with community events, Ken had many other roles at the library. As Assistant Library Director and Director of the Walsh History Center, Ken oversaw renovations on the Library’s second floor, and painting, roofing, HVAC, and ongoing repair projects over the years. He promoted Camden’s annual Winterfest celebration over the past two decades. The Camden Herald was digitized and posted online under his guidance. The Library’s Summer Concert Series and Summer Movie series through the years were part of Ken’s responsibilities, as well as hosting and support of many town organizations over the years such as the Camden Conference, Camden Garden Club, Camden Philosophical Society, the Camden-Rockport Historical Society, Union of Maine Visual Artists, Senior College, and the Library’s own Harbor Arts festival and regular book sales
“I won’t be going far!” said Ken. “I have several projects that I want to see through in the History Center that I intend to keep working on as a volunteer. The Camden library is the best place to be!”
The Camden Public Library has been chosen to benefit from the Shaw’s Give Back Where It Counts Bag Program during February. Shaw’s Give Back Where It Counts, which launched in March 2019, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work.
The library will receive a $1 donation for every $3 reusable Give Back Where It Counts Bag sold during February at the Shaw’s store located at 235 Camden Street in Rockland, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag.
The library wishes to thank the entire staff of the Rockland Shaw’s for making this program possible and for all of the staff does for our community. For more information on the Shaw’s Give Back Where It Counts Reusable Bag Program, visit shaws.2givelocal.com.
For reasons of safety, the granite stones and benches in Harbor Park are being put back in place. While this is not a permanent solution to sea-level rise, more resilient options to save Harbor Park will take time and are being pursued. A committee of library trustees is working on a more long-term solution to help the Park and seawall adapt to these times. The committee plans to explore creative options and work together with the Select Board and Town Manager because Harbor Park, while managed by the Library, is Town property. Thank you for your support of our efforts!
You can help support the library’s repair efforts at librarycamden.org/donate.
Thank you to everyone who signed up for an ice block! There are no more ice blocks available. But be sure to come watch the carvers at work – amateurs and professionals – during Winterfest on Saturday, January 27!
Have you ever wanted to try ice carving? Winterfest is your chance to transform a crystal-clear block of ice into a sparkling sculpture! No experience is necessary and all tools will be provided. Sign up for an ice block on your own or with friends, a group, school, or organization. It’s a blast for all ages! Thanks to help from First National Bank, we have reduced the price to $60/ice block for each team!
Once you’ve signed up, you or your group will plan out a design for your ice sculpture on paper. During Winterfest, professional ice carvers Tim Pierce and Hector Pietra-Santa will rough out the design from your 300-pound block of ice using a chainsaw. You’ll then turn it into your own masterpiece with traditional ice carving hand tools.
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:
A wonderful way to say “thank you” for library services to the community, is to donate items from our Amazon Wish List. If you are able to help, please CLICK HERE to review our current needs.
Note: When sending an item through Amazon, please note your name and contact information in the “gift note” so that we can give you proper credit for your donation. If you have any problems doing this, or have donated recently without doing this, please email the library (info@librarycamden.org).
Thank you!
Our monthly book groups are a fun way to talk about books we love, discover new authors, and share ideas. Our Maine Student Book Award Club is for students in grades 4-8. We have a list at the library, or you can check out the list at http://msba.umeedu.maine.edu/ for the latest books for suggestion. Our monthly meetings usually include a potluck and a lot of laughs.
Our YA Book-Lovers Club meets on a Tuesday once a month from 4 to 5. You don’t have to be a teen to like YA books, and we encourage anyone to attend. Our group choice changes monthly, so be sure to check out our events calendar or stop by the library to request the latest pick!
We are seeking your help to Stock the Stacks! The Stock the Stacks fund is an essential part of our operating budget, and it goes directly into purchasing new books. We always strive to keep the library shelves current and vibrant — and we can’t do it without you! Visit https://www.librarycamden.org/stockthestacks to donate – and thank you!
The National Library Service (NLS) is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books the way you want them: in braille or audio formats, mailed to your door for free, or instantly downloadable. (more…)
This is a picture taken from Mt. Battie around 1880 looking toward Rockport harbor. 
