Machias welcomes 2 new librarians

MACHIAS – Jody Rose, the new director of the Porter Memorial Library, exudes a learning attitude that she wishes everyone who enters the library could share in, too.

“I’m a lifelong learner,” Rose said Friday afternoon amid library users both browsing and borrowing. “I really appreciate the chance to help others learn too, especially in nontraditional ways. The library is more than just books.”

Rose started in her position Nov. 15. She is not the only new face in the 112-year-old library: Carol Maryan-George joined the staff two weeks ago as the children’s librarian.

The pair are a perfect fit for the library’s future. Their

hiring coincides with the

transition in October to Kathleen Burke as the board

of trustees’ chairman, from

Dr. Francis Schumann.

“This is a fruitful, exciting time – and time-consuming, too,” Rose said.

Rose said she is still getting up to speed with library operations. She has had Brenda Layman, the previous librarian, at her side every Thursday teaching her the basics of the job.

Once Rose feels comfortable and moving forward, patrons will see plenty of positives for 2005.

That starts Jan. 8 with a tea for volunteers – or those who are interested in becoming volunteers. Getting more people involved will allow the new librarians to spend more time on library services, she said.

Additionally, the library will also be changing its hours to better serve its users. Sometime in January or February, the hours will switch to noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Currently the library is open just four days, totaling 26 hours a week.

Downstairs, Maryan-George is responsible for the children’s collection. She, too, has new ideas that might bring in new users.

She is new to the area, moving to East Machias in July. She and her husband moved from the Washington, D.C., area. She was an archivist for the National Park Service, specializing in a collection for black women’s history. Jerry George still works as a speechwriter for the Library of Congress.

Because of her recent arrival, Maryan-George is still developing relationships both in her library capacity and personal life.

“It’s not just about books,” she said of her library position. “This library can be a point for all kinds of information and presentations.”