Looking at the Library Bona Fides of Maine's Governor-Elect...and the Waterville Public Library

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Link to November 22 Boston Globe article, "Maine’s GOP star burns hot. Fiery governor-elect LePage evokes admiration, worry".

Excerpt: In Waterville, he [Governor-elect Paul LePage] is known as a budget slasher, tax cutter, and blunt talker. To Ellen W. Richmond, the owner of a children’s bookstore across the street from City Hall, he is something else: “He’s a bully,’’ she said.

Richmond, a Republican who says she usually looks for libertarian candidates, said that when she e-mailed local leaders asking that they help upgrade the old library, LePage’s response was dismissive, flippantly painting those who disagreed with his opposition to the project as out-of-towners. [Fortunately, the project has moved forward in spite of his opposition.]  Richmond said she worries he will lose his composure on a bigger stage and reinforce a stereotype that Maine is a backwater.

Thomas R.W. Longstaff, a retired Colby College professor and Waterville city councilor who was recently elected as a Democrat in the Legislature, said LePage “is really used to being the boss,’’ and “if you go along with him, everything runs very smoothly.’’

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Link to October 12 Morning Sentinel article, "Waterville library gets $400,000 Alfond challenge grant".

Excerpt: The Harold Alfond Foundation has given a $400,000 matching challenge grant to complete the Waterville Public Library’s renovation and expansion project.

For every dollar the library raises, the foundation will donate $2, for up to a total of $300,000, according to Library Director Sarah Sugden.

If the library raises $150,000 by Jan. 15, the foundation will pitch in an additional $100,000 bonus.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity,” Sugden said Tuesday. “They’ve (Alfond Foundation) never funded public libraries before, so this is amazing. We take it as a real vote of confidence by the Harold Alfond Foundation in this project.”

The funds will be used to furnish the newly-renovated library, which Sugden says is expected to be completed this fall; library officials will be better able to maintain collections, to keep them safe and secure; wood trim in the building will be refinished; and equipment such as circulation software will be purchased to allow for less transaction time at the desk, she said.