CARIBOU, Maine — In late September, former Library Director Lisa Shaw left Caribou to work as a direct consulting specialist at the Maine State Library. Youth Services Librarian Katie Wilcox-Bosse also left the library to start a job as library media specialist at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, Maine roughly one month prior to Shaw’s departure. Since then, Caribou City Manager Austin Bleess has maintained the facility while searching for new staff.
Library hours may have been reduced during this time but, with volunteers, the people of Caribou were still able to enjoy the facility’s offerings. Events continued on, with the most recent example being a Christmas concert featuring the George Allen and Friends String Ensemble, with refreshments guests and volunteers prepared.
Bleess, who also serves as president for the Caribou Rotary, announced during the club’s Dec. 21, 2016 meeting that the search for a library director appears to be over, and confirmed this during a Dec. 22 phone interview.
Anastasia Weigle will bring 27 years of library experience to the table when she moves up from the Old Orchard Beach area next month.
“She has a long library history, and has spent 15 years as a library director,” Bleess said. “We are very excited that we’re able to get her here. She has a camp in The County so she’s excited to move to Caribou and join our team.”
According to the City Manager, Weigle has worked both in and out of Maine, and has directed libraries in both Saco and Westbrook.
Bleess says the city is now searching for a children’s librarian.
“We’ve posted ads and are beginning to search,” Bleess said. “We will take those applications and once Anastasia is here, she will be part of the hiring process. We waited until we hired a library director, so they could play a role in the hiring since the two positions work so closely together.”
In the director’s absence, Bless said he enjoyed being at the library, adding that it was a great space.
“I’m very excited to have Anastasia on board,” Bless said. “She has a lot of energy, is very qualified, and will definitely make a great addition to our team.”
