FEATURE: Not Your Father’s Library

The acting director of Biddeford’s McArthur Library talks about a never-ending evolution of services and some of the challenges facing downtown libraries

Even to the casual observer, it becomes quickly evident that once you walk through the front door of Biddeford’s McArthur Library – – you are no longer in your father’s library.

Gone are the days of strident, middle-aged ladies admonishing you for the volume of your voice or the mounting late fees on your overdue books.

Today’s libraries have evolved and are working to keep pace with both technology and a changing community. Nowhere is that more evident than inside the McArthur Library.

Originally housed in the “City Building” (City Hall), a devastating fire in 1894 gutted the building and forced the library’s trustees to search for a ‘stand-alone’ location. The library is today housed in the former Pavilion Church on Main Street.

Over the years, the library has been expanded and renovated and continues to be a hub of activity for people of all ages in the downtown area.

Once again, the McArthur Library is facing another transition.

Earlier this year, long-time director Jeff Cabral accepted a position at another library in New Hampshire. While the library’s trustees are in the middle of a search for a new director, Nicole Clark – the Adult Services supervisor – has been serving as a temporary director.

Clark, 31, is a native of Kittery and attended the University of Maine Farmington where she earned a degree in teaching. She taught high school English for a little more than four years but says she became “burned out from teaching” and took a job in the Goodall Library in Sanford before making her way to Biddeford.

We caught up with Clark recently to ask her how the library is changing and adapting and about some of the challenges facing today’s board of trustees.

Why did you switch from teaching high school English and theater to working in a library?

“Teaching was a rewarding career, and I loved working with my students. The changes in education recently, and the expectations put on teachers and just the lack of support that teachers have; I just got burned out. I loved it, but I could tell that I was not myself. 

“Working in a library was just a much better fit for me. I fell in love with it. You’re not teaching to a test or facing mounting standards and regulations. I always loved books and helping people. You get to connect people with things that they enjoy, whether it’s literature or a fun program or helping with a bit of research.”

Have you put your hat in the ring to become the library’s next director?

“It’s not something that I was originally considering at all. I like being a librarian, I like connecting with the public, I like the front-facing nature of it. Being a director is oftentimes more the big picture, the behind-the-scenes stuff: administrative tasks, dealing with the stakeholders, the politics and the budget.

“I feel a little back and forth about it because I think this library deserves someone who is passionate about those things. If for some reason, somebody doesn’t come forth who is passionate about all those things and serving the community . . . it just depends on what is best for the library. I would very happy, either way.”

What do you think are some things that the public should know about today’s library?

The library is one of the last places
in the country where you can exist
without the expectation of spending money

— Nicole Clark

“I love that question. In this day and age, the library is not just a repository for books anymore. The library has evolved. Yes, we still have many, many books that we love to connect our patrons with, but we also have a slew of programming for all ages. From author events to children’s story time that connects them with animals or music, to technology classes for seniors.

“This is a place where people come to socialize, to connect with other people; to learn something or to feel a sense of warmth and joy and not have to stress about having to spend money to get that.

“The library is one of the last places in the country where you can exist without the expectation of spending money. The reason we provide all of our services for free is to provide access. That’s one of the biggest things about the library.

“We want people to access information, entertainment; to access everything from WiFi connectivity to a social coffee hour for seniors so that there’s someone to chat with on a Thursday morning, and you don’t have to worry about spending money to do that.”

We all know that you can check out books from the library, but what are some of the other things you can check out for free?

“People may know about our expanding list of DVDs, but we also have a library of things – it’s a recreation collection. People can check out things like fishing poles or a croquet set if you have people over for a barbecue.

“People can check out things that they may not have the money to buy. For example, we check out a telescope so that kids who might be learning about the moon and the stars have access to the resources they need. That can be an expensive item that some parents may not be able to afford.

“We have snowshoes and sleds available in the winter, we have portable DVD players or even a Ukulele.

As libraries evolve, how are you keeping pace with instant, on-demand information resources such as Google or Wikipedia?

“You can ask Google anything, but you can’t necessarily be sure that the information is accurate, but a professional librarian can help you look at information sources that are trustworthy and cross-reference.

“On the other hand, we are embracing technology, providing people with a quiet space to do their own research. We offer free WiFi throughout the building, and we also provide free phone chargers and access to public computers.

“We provide free access to things like Ancestry.com without the paywall you would have to pay for at home.”

Recently, there has been some negative chatter on social media about unhoused persons ‘loitering’ at the library.

“A public library is a library for everybody. We are here to provide safe, warm, welcoming and equitable access for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, age or anything to do with their identity.

“We do have a significant population of people who are unhoused in the downtown area, and the library being one of the places where they are not expected to spend money, and where they can be warm, safe and charge their devices and take a break from some of their struggles.

“We are definitely an open-door to them and to those who are not going through that.  The majority of our unhoused visitors are just lovely human beings. We love getting to know them and learning about the things that interest them.

“As with any population, there are some folks who have challenges and bring those challenges into the library. We do have a security officer who is just a wonderful human being. He gets to know just about everybody who comes into the library.

On the issue of unhoused people, the library has an upcoming event regarding the issues of homelessness in Maine.

“Yes, we’re looking forward to the free Biddeford screening of a documentary that showcases stories from Maine with a message that there is hope to ending the suffering of homelessness.

“After the film, we will be hosting a panel discussion with from local folks such as Jake Hammer from the city of Biddeford’s General Assistance office and Vassie Fowler from Seeds of Hope.  That will be taking place on May 29^th at 6 p.m.

You have a new program starting soon about downtown.

“Yes! The theme of our summer reading program this year is “Summer on Main Street.” We will be working with different businesses here downtown. Especially amidst the construction and detours to encourage foot traffic to all businesses downtown.

“We’ll be offering raffles, gift cards and lots of fun ways for people to connect with downtown and all the businesses here.”

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