Librarian to depart CPL for Maine State Library
CARIBOU, Maine — As Caribou Public Library Director Lisa Neal Shaw prepares to take on a job as a direct consulting specialist at the Maine State Library, the library board plans on throwing a going away party on September 28 between 4 and 6 p.m.
Prior to coming to Caribou, Shaw worked at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle for roughly seven years. Starting as an assistant children’s librarian, she later advanced to teen librarian, and eventually assistant director before taking on the director position in Caribou.
“It is such interesting work,” Shaw said. “If you like to write and research and help people experiment with technology, it has all those components. It’s very diverse, and there is always something new.”
Like most careers, being a library director has its ups and downs, but Shaw says there are far more benefits than drawbacks.
“City management and the community, as a whole, are very supportive,” said Shaw, “and the staff is top notch. They’re so much fun to work with every day. Caribou has been extremely supportive. Watching the volunteers and the staff also grow in their careers has been pretty rewarding as well.”
The only drawback, according to Shaw, is the struggle to maintain adequate funding for staff, though she added that this is not just experienced by Caribou, but by many rural and urban libraries as well.
“People have competing interests for their tax dollars so I certainly understand that,” Shaw said.
Last year, City Council narrowly voted against funding for an extra full-time position at the library, and though the position would have helped the facility, many volunteers donate their time to improve their city’s library.
These volunteers have many fond memories of working with Shaw, and while they will miss their director, they are proud to see her move forward.
Brenda Bourgoine, president of the Aroostook County Genealogical Society (which is now located in the Caribou Library) says that Shaw is smart and pleasant to work with, adding that she is well suited for her next job at the Maine State Library.
“She’s been very agreeable if I ask about making changes or anything,” said Bourgoine. “If I ask for anything, she’ll say ‘You know what you need, go for it.’”
“We’re sad to see her go,” Bourgoine continued, “but on the other hand, no one wants to prevent someone from advancing their career. I think she’s a perfect match for the job that she’s taken, and we will see her again because she’s going to represent the northeast district.”
Genealogical Society Secretary Pro tem Allen Voisine agrees, saying that Shaw “is very pleasant and enjoyable to work with.”
Thorne Pelletier, a young man who has volunteered at the library for over a year, says that the state library is going to be very lucky to have Shaw working for them.
“I typically get turned down from volunteer work because I’m autistic,” said Pelletier, “but Lisa didn’t care about that; she encouraged me to join.”
Pelletier says there is a strong sense of family among volunteers and staff at the Caribou library, and that the experience has helped him in a myriad of ways.
“I think the biggest thing she contributes here is the sense of family,” said Pelletier. “I would get stressed out in social situations and, if you think about it, a library is an extreme social situation. Lisa treats me like family and that keeps me less stressed. In fact, the library has become a stress release point.”
Since beginning his work as a volunteer during August of 2015, Pelletier says he has overcome just about all of his social phobias and that Shaw’s decision to hire him has been a tremendous help.
When asked how she will look back on her time in Caribou, the library director said she will remember all the fun times had by staff and volunteers.
“You never know who is going to come through the door next,” said Shaw. “It could be someone with a question about their phone or tablet. Everyone that comes in is excited to be here, and that’s probably going to be what I remember the most. Everybody loves the challenge and is excited about it, even when the computers aren’t cooperating, the plumbing leaks, or the furnace won’t kick on. This community has a wonderful sense of humor, not just the library. They keep things in perspective with an upbeat attitude.”
