After 16 years of service to the community, Nikki Maounis, executive director of the Camden Public Library, announced her retirement. Her final day with the library will be May 1.

“It was truly my honor to both lead and contribute to the tremendous work that our library does on behalf of the greater Camden community,” Nikki Maounis said, in a Feb. 2 news release. “I very much enjoyed the challenge and opportunity to bring this library into the Digital Age, and also to help sustain one of Maine’s busiest libraries.” 

“Camden was very fortunate to have Nikki as Executive Director of our library. Her strong leadership and guidance have helped to make this a shining 5-star-rated library, one of the best in the country. We will miss her and we wish her all the best in her next endeavors,” said Susan Todd, CPL Trustee.

Under Nikki Maounis, CPL became the only library in Maine to qualify consistently for Library Journal’s coveted 5-Star ranking, based on usage of a library by its community.

During her tenure, the library expanded service with new technologies such as the CPL “app,” RFID check-out, and streaming movie and eBook offerings. She also built upon CPL’s reputation for excellence to make it one of the leading libraries in Maine in attendance for both on-site and virtual learning programs.

Maounis’ other accomplishments include building an endowment fund to help sustain the Camden Public Library into the future; securing more than $1 million in grant funding to expand programs and operations; and helping to bring National Historic Landmark status to the library and its unique amphitheatre. She and her staff also went above and beyond to keep the library functioning safely through the Covid-19 pandemic, for which so many house-bound citizens of Camden were grateful. 

“In integrity, expertise and management skills, Nikki has set a high bar. She will be difficult to replace,” said CPL Trustee Jennifer Gromada. “She is approachable, wise and open to sharing her experiences and knowledge. Nikki’s experience and wisdom have been invaluable to me as a trustee.” Outgoing Board of Trustees President Silvio Calabi called her “one of the best executives I’ve ever worked with.” 

Before coming to Camden as Executive Director of its library, Maounis was the Library Director in Rockland, Maine during the years of that library’s renovation/addition project. Before moving to Maine in 2000, she was the Assistant Director and Head of Children’s Services in Camas, Washington. Maounis began her library career at Berkeley Public Library as a work- study student.

“Nikki has a wonderful way of working with her staff, the library trustees and the public,” said Board Vice-President John Fitzgerald. “She is personable, energetic and a wonderful conversationalist with a great sense of humor. She’s an outstanding person, and she will be sorely missed. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.”

A public reception will be held at the library at a later date.

The Board of Trustees will immediately begin a search for a new Executive Director and hopes to have one identified by April.