anticipated upgrades to begin in late spring

Fri, 03/22/2019 - 9:30am

From left: Shawn Jacobs and Nikki Maounis of the Camden Public Library, stand with Mark O’Donal, Audrey Klein-Leach, and Alli Young, of Camden National Bank. (Photo courtesy Camden Public Library)

CAMDEN — Executives from Camden National Bank have presented the Camden Public Library with a check to support a room refresh and technology upgrades in the Jean Picker Room of the library.

One of the few meeting rooms available in town for public meetings, the Picker Room will be outfitted with a new carpet, fresh paint, and technology that will enhance live streaming and improve sound and lighting, according to the Library, in a news release. Further, the room refresh will provide a welcome setting for the numerous meetings and exhibits that take place in the Picker Room.

“We’re grateful to have such a strong partnership with our friends and neighbors at the Camden Public Library,” said Greg Dufour, president and CEO of Camden National Bank, in the release. “As Camden National Bank has evolved and grown alongside the library over the years, we’ve been proud to provide ongoing support for this vital community institution and others in our hometown. We’re glad to see that an investment in the Picker Room will greatly benefit all in Camden who utilize this wonderful space.”

“The Camden Public Library appreciates the work that Camden National Bank does to strengthen our community,” said Nikki Maounis, the library’s executive director, in the release. “This contribution from the Bank supports the library’s position as the center of Camden’s public life, where people come together to read, connect, and discover.”

The Picker Room is named after former Camden philanthropist Jean Picker, who served as U.S. Delegate to the United Nations in the 1960s and 1970s. It serves as a place for cultural and educational programs and exhibits that are free and open to the public.

These programs and exhibits provide an opportunity for aesthetic and intellectual growth and enjoyment and foster public awareness of issues and events, according to the Library.

In addition to the nearly 800 library programs that take place there each year, the Picker Room can be reserved on a first‑come, first-served basis. It is anticipated that these upgrades will start in late spring and be completed this summer. The renovation is expected to have limited impact on programs that are currently scheduled to take place there.