Congratulations, Desirée Scorcia

I’m pleased to announce that Desirée Scorcia has been promoted to Assistant Director of Community Engagement & Nonprofit Management at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML).

Ms. Scorcia joined BHML in June of 2016 as a Youth Services Librarian and immediately demonstrated her ability to connect the community to the Library. In her role as Youth Services Librarian, she oversaw children’s programming and instituted many successful events, including our summer Fair Weather Film series (which will be going on its third year) and a Minecraft Club that was so popular it immediately needed to be split in two.

Ms. Scorcia expanded children’s outreach services through her ceaseless commitment to bringing library services to the entire peninsula. She brought story hours, library collections, and science programming to local daycares and summer camps. Earlier this year, she won a Gizmo Gardens grant for the library, and with these funds has offered 3D printing workshops (Print-a-Pet, ornament making, and more to come) as well as coding programs for children. This summer, she also secured a grant from the Science‐Technology Activities and Resources Library Education Network that provided us with 1,000 pairs of eclipse-viewing glasses.

In her role as assistant director, Ms. Scorcia will continue to focus on programming, including children’s STEM programs and outreach. In addition, she will manage community engagement and technology, and work with me to maintain BHML as a valued non-profit in our region.

Don’t worry, you’ll still see her behind the circulation desk, checking out books to patrons, troubleshooting the printers, and setting up eReaders!

“I’m so excited to serve our community in this new position,” Scorcia said. “My goals are to help integrate new technology into the Library, and to keep our public internet access in top shape. I want everyone to know that we have the fastest, most reliable internet connection on the peninsula.”

It has been so enriching working and learning from Ms. Scorcia, who is dedicated to her community, smart as a whip, creative, and resourceful. As a new director myself, I am looking forward to working with her in this new capacity to bring traditional and next-generation library services to all of the peninsula.

There has been a lot of change at the library over the last few years, from the renovation to what is now an entirely new staff. We still have one position left to fill to be back at full capacity; a Public Services/Children’s Librarian position. Those interested may read more about online at https://bbhlibrary.org/about/employment.

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is almost a century old and we find ourselves in a nascent state! For this I have to pause to thank our volunteers for their wisdom, our predecessors for their advice, the board for their guidance, and especially the community for your support and feedback. A library is books, but this library is the people (and books...and a telescope…and a guinea pig...). We love our patrons; I think that’s why Ms. Scorcia accepted the position. If you have a chance, stop by the Library to say congratulations.

Upcoming Events

Minecraft Play Club: Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. Come build and play in a virtual world with friends. Kindergarten and up.

Story Hour: Fridays, 10:15 a.m. Hear a story, make a craft, and sing a song!

Santa at the Library: Harbor Lights Festival, Saturday, Dec. 2, 1:30-3 p.m.

Monday Night Book Group: Monday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m. “Moon Tiger” by Penelope Lively. Facilitator Leslie Volpe, 633-0557.

December Artists of the Month: Betsy Bass and Pam Logan, photography on display in the upstairs Community Room.

Author Afternoon with Sandra Neily, “Nature-themed Mysteries & Thrillers and ...Truth,” Saturday, Jan. 13, 12:30-2 p.m. (Weather date: Saturday, Jan. 20)