MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2023-2024

---

President

We moved to Rockland when our children were aged four, two and a newborn and happened to purchase a house one block from the Library. We quickly fell in love with it and used it as a resource. As our children grew, my wife volunteered for and later joined the Board of the Friends of the Library, and after years of helping her, I joined the PLEA Board. I love that I can help guide investing in this pillar of the community to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy it as much as my family has.

Vice President 

Secretary

My parents moved our family to Maine in the late 70’s, buying an1800’s house in Waldoboro that no one had lived in for 40 years. There began my love of Maine. I left for college and then spent my early career in Washington DC, but would visit frequently. After September 11 happened I decided to move back to Maine. My mother was a great lover of the library and was a member of the Rockland Library Friend’s board, which I ultimately served on as well. A library card is a passport to another world, one in which we get to decide where we want to travel, so wherever I’ve lived a visit to the local library has always been one of my first stops. My favorite book— Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, a book that both my mother and I would read once a year. I split my time between Portsmouth, NH and Rockland with the ultimate goal of returning to Rockland at some point. In the meantime I’m honored to serve on the R-PLEA board and to support our library, a true gem in our community.

Treasurer

I grew up going mostly to the Owls Head Library as my mother was president.  We would also go up to the Rockland Public Library.  I cherish those memories the most.  I remember the smell of the library and the book that I always took out was Blaze Finds the Trail by Clarence William Anderson.  It never got old for me.  Such a wonderful book of discovery.  It invoked a sense of longing and exploration.  Something I still do today.  Being a part of the Rockland Public Library helps me stay connected to those memories, but most importantly to my mother.   She was the salutatorian of the class of 1956 in Rockland. 

Assistant Treasurer

In the late 1990’s when my kids were little we loved visiting local libraries. Unfortunately the Rockland Public Library at that time was terribly outdated and the children’s room was unwelcoming.  In 1998 I joined the board of the Friends of RPL where I learned there was a plan to renovate and expand the library. Both the Friends group and newly formed RPLEA worked together on the project. After several years of hard work fundraising by both organizations it was wonderful to see the “new” library unveiled in 2001! I’ve been a Friend’s volunteer for 26 years and gladly joined the RPLEA Board several years ago 

Library Director, Ex-Officio

As an elementary school student, I would often arrive home in the afternoon, hop on my bike and ride to the library. I looked forward to visiting with and learning from our librarian Dot Johnson, to returning books and of course taking out more. This almost daily trip was an important and fun part of my life.

Born and raised in Rockland the Library was always a part of my life.  As a kid I spent my free time either at the Rec Center or the Library.  Carol has close ties as well as she spent time pushing a baby carriage up and back to the Library.  She became involved with the Friends and served as its President.  Our two children just naturally migrated to this amazing building and are voracious readers having been inspired by the Rockland Public Library and their staff.  I have always said the greatest assets in Rockland are the Farnsworth Museum and our Star Library. 

We book lovers find it all but impossible to choose one favorite out of all the riches available to us but A Child’s Garden of Verses delighted my childhood and my kids’ as well. Now I’m making sure my grandkids get to enjoy it too.( My latest purchase was for a 2 year old and her 9 month old sister!) One is never too young, or too old, for the wonder of books. Just one of many reasons I cherish our Rockland Public Library!

Amy grew up in a small, rural town in Western Massachusetts. After living in Boston for many years, she and her partner relocated to Maine, reconnecting to her family’s roots and to be part of a small town community. An artist and professional designer, Amy is also a community organizer and committed local volunteer serving on Rockland’s Comprehensive Planning Commission, co-founder of the community non-profit Renew Rockland, and a regular participant in city policy discussions. In addition to her passion for volunteering, Amy has expertise in brand design, marketing, event planning, and has been instrumental in visualizing, managing and implementing local projects.