Wiscasset Public Library recently welcomed back Joan Spurgat as its children’s librarian.

Spurgat was in charge of the spacious children’s room on the library’s lower level for 16 years before retiring in 2006.

“For me, coming back was like coming home,” she told the newspaper Friday morning. It was her one-month anniversary since returning on Nov. 17.

Spurgat has a long history with the library dating back to the 1980s. That was when she and her husband Gary moved with their five children from the New Jersey shore to a home on Cross Point Road in Edgecomb where they still reside.

“I started by helping with the children’s summer reading program. Sally Nelder was the children’s librarian then,” she recalled. “After the kids went back to school that September, they asked if I’d like to stay on as Sally’s assistant.” When Nelder left in 1990, Spurgat became the children’s librarian.

She stayed on at the library until 2006 when she left to help her husband operate their business, Windsong Bed and Breakfast, that they’d started at their home in 2000. They closed the business in 2010. Spurgat was enjoying her retirement when she heard the library was again looking for a children’s librarian and decided to apply for the position. “It was a job I always loved doing and am so happy to come back to,” she added.

A collection that keeps growing

The library has always been very supportive of its children’s collection, which is considered one of the finest in the Midcoast region. It’s furnished with hundreds of classic and contemporary children’s books that kids of all ages can borrow to enjoy. Over the years the library has added children’s music on compact discs and movie DVDs to its collection, which is still growing.

Something old, something new

Spurgat said the children’s library continues to offer its popular “Story Time” every Thursday morning at 10:30. “It’s a nice activity for parents or grandparents to bring their children or grandchildren to. The program runs about 30 minutes or so,” she said. As always, all good listeners are invited to come to hear a story, sing some songs and have a good time.

Spurgat encourages folks to share some of their ideas for other programs the children’s library might offer. “Starting in January, we’d like to try two separate story times. One session would be for infants to age 2, and another for children ages 2 to 4.”  She said the library also hopes to launch an after-school reading program that older kids might enjoy.

One idea Spurgat has is to maybe offer a folk tales and fables series. The topics might include local folklore and legends shared by guest speakers or even local authors.

“We have a really fine microscope here that we’d love to use for a science demonstration,” she added. “We’re open to almost any suggestion people might have.” People can submit their ideas on Wiscasset Public Library’s Facebook page, or by going to www.wiscassetnewspaper.com and clicking on the Main Street link. Spurgat is also handing out paper surveys to library visitors.

The library staff is delighted that Spurgat has returned. “She’s has a gentle personality and is very warm and welcoming to everyone,” librarian Pam Dunning said. “She also has a vast amount of knowledge on children’s literature. We’re just so happy that she came back to us.”

The children’s room is open the same hours as the rest of the library on High Street: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.