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Ken Gross has retired after 20 years at CPL

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!”

Shaw’s selects Camden Library to benefit from ‘Give Back Where It Counts’ Bag Program during February

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.

Responding to Storm Damage and Planning for the Future

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.

Appointments Full – Free Tax Preparation Available at the Camden Public Library

Appointments are now full!

Appointments are now available for free tax-return preparation with volunteers from the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program. The program is open to taxpayers of all ages and AARP membership is not required. Appointments will take place in-person at the Camden Public Library. Slots are available on Mondays from January 29 to April 8.

Plan to pick up your intake form at the Atlantic Avenue entrance at the Camden Public Library to complete prior to your appointment. You will need to bring last year’s tax return, all 2023 tax documents, property tax bills, photo identification, and any other information you think would be helpful. Masks are required during appointments.

The trained and IRS-certified volunteers will help you get every tax credit and deduction you’ve earned, including Maine sales and property tax (or rent) fairness credits. They will also file returns for past years to get these credits if you haven’t filed recently. Even if you do not normally file or pay state or federal taxes, you may be eligible for these refundable credits.

There are no age or income limits for this program. However, some returns may be out of scope and Tax-Aide volunteers would not be able to prepare them. For example, volunteers can’t prepare returns with rental income (except land-only rentals or rentals of personal residence for fewer than 15 days), any virtual currency investment or transaction, or complex business income.

Sign Up Now for Winterfest Ice Carving!

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.

Winterfest Partners

WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

First National Bank logo

Camden Public Library’s Amazon Wish List

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!

Busy Summer with our Children’s Programs

 

 

Library Book Groups for Children, Teens and YA book-loving adults!

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!

   

DONATE CRAFT SUPPLIES and help replenish our craft closet!

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!

 

Braille and Talking Book Library

NLS x300

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…)

Finding Your House’s History

This is a picture taken from Mt. Battie around 1880 looking toward Rockport harbor. View of Camden from Mt. Battie looking southwest toward Rockport in 1891.

Do you live in Rockport and want to know more about your historic home?

National Register of Historic Places nominations (1975) -Rockport