The Camden Public Library will expand services beginning on Tuesday, May 26, to include curbside pickup six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Requests for books, DVDs, and other library materials may be made by email and phone.

This addition of services is part of a multi-phase process for gradually re-opening the library, based on guidelines set in place by the Governor and Maine CDC. The Library will continue to offer online programming to the community via the Zoom platform and social media, free access to film streaming on Kanopy, and thousands of e-books and audiobooks on Cloud Library, according to the Library, in a news release.

In addition, the book drop next to the Atlantic Avenue entrance is available for use. The library requests that members begin to return materials at this time. Library staff plan to place returned materials into quarantine and will disinfect them according to recommended protocols.

Executive Director Nikki Maounis recognizes the community’s longing for a return to traditional library engagement. 

“Reopening will not mean going back to the way things were pre-COVID-19,” she said. “The last few months have required us to meet operational challenges head-on; to envision and construct a new approach to library services and the library experience.”  

While the library hopes to expand services in June to include a “soft opening” of the first floor of the building for limited hours and materials checkout, in the meantime the Library building will remain closed to the public. Online programming for children and adults will remain in place and details about these innovative and ever-expanding opportunities can be found at librarycamden.org/events.

The latest information about when additional services will become available can always be found on the library’s website and Facebook pages.