In Yankee magazine's January/February 2013 issue, its editors created a fictional town called "New Englandville" encompassing "everything we love about New England in one perfect place." Compiling the best of the best of New England in a fictionalized town "blessed with beauty and belonging," Yankee included Camden Public Library as its fantasy library. In the article, the editors praise its "comfy armchairs, soaring ceilings, and awe-inspiring windows facing the harbor's frothy dark water."

Camden Public Library Director Nikki Maounis was thrilled not only to be included in Yankee, but to also receive a framed cover of the issue from the magazine's staff. "The article talked a lot about the Reading Room [on the third floor] and the contrast we have on the different floors," she said. "The Rotunda, pictured in the article, is the main floor where all the action happens. It's very much a community center with people in and out, people reading books to each other, talking, using computers and so forth. The Reading Room is much more of a quiet space, the kind of place where people write books and think great thoughts."

The Reading Room seemed to capture the imagination of Yankee editors the most, as it was described as "dozy and cozy."

In the last three years, grant money from the Stephen King and Branta foundations has allowed CPL to completely transform this space from what Maounis called "a very underused space" into a much more comfortable and popular area. After doing research on the interiors of other libraries around the country as well as conducting a local poll, CPL completely updated the look of the Reading Room with more comfortable furniture, new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint.

It's a transformation that has been met with much community gratitude.

"I'm reminded of that quote, 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,'" said Maounis.

Asked if she knew the town's library would be in Yankee magazine, Maounis said it was a complete surprise. She said that the magazine's staff asked her for a photo of the Rotunda more than six months ago and so, she'd had an inkling CPL would be in some kind of feature. But she had no idea what it was until Yankee sent them a copy of the magazine abd a framed cover of the issue.

"It is very gratifying to see this in Yankee because we've worked very hard," she said. "For the fifth year in a row, Camden has received the honor of being a Library Journal 'star library' based on the quantity and quality of our services. It's often said that a good public library acts as a 'third place.' There's home, there's work or school and then there's the library. And in Camden, it's very much that third place in that we serve as a community center."

Check out the library sometime as well as their copy of Yankee magazine and see for yourself what makes Camden's the "fantasy library" of New Englandville.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.