CAMDEN — Long before the Picker Room at Camden Public Library filled with people for the Edible Book contest, April 6, Library staff were planning for a repeat event next year.

Promoted as the kick-off for National Library Week, as well as the kick-off for the Camden Library Capital Campaign, the contest drew 23 entrants. Young friends, families, and adults allowed their creativity to melt in the mouths of official judges, before being further savored on the tongues of local citizens.  

“This was the best party ever,” said one little girl, as attendees reluctantly filtered out, carrying random combinations of popcorn, salsa, salad, pastries, frosting and more.

By 1:45 p.m., as contestants finalized their creations and photographers snapped ‘Before’ pictures, a crowd was forming in the lobby. At 2 p.m., the room’s doors opened. Within minutes, curious patrons had filled the entire space.

“Next year, we’ll go upstairs,” staff were overheard saying.

The likelihood of the Edible Book Festival returning next year is high. However, the future of the Library, in general, is not guaranteed, according to Dave Jackson, director of the library’s parks.

“Each year, we scramble to fill the funding gap,” said a library trustee. “To date, we’ve been successful, yet I’m afraid there will come a day when we will not be able to pay the bills.”

The Library’s goal is to raise $2.5 million. Approximately $1.5 million has already been reached, thanks to the organization’s largest donors and friends. Within that raised amount, more than $100,000 came from the Library’s business leadership circle.

The Campaign for the Future allows the Library to be a resource “when the community needs us most,” she said. “And we are committed to always being here for you.”

To raise the rest, the Library looks to the residents.

Through a $250 donation, a brick can be purchased for the brick garden.

“A brick path with hundreds of names will shout out loud and clear that the town is committed to the Library,” Jackson said. “Generations now, and those to come, can read the name’s of people you like, or any messages you would like people to see.”

Until then, follow (figuratively speaking) the path of inaugural Edible Books winners as they blend titles, puns, word variations, and characters into next year’s oven.

The Library encourages more adults to participate in the event, according to Amy Hand, “if we do it again.”

Winners:

Best Looking: First Place tie: Fledgling and Wings of Fire

Best Looking: Second Place: The Malted Falcon

Best Tasting: First Place: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Best Tasting: Second Place: Aragon cupcakes

Best Pun: The Tuile of Two Cities

Best Pun: Second Place: War and Peeps

Most Creative: Things Fall Apart

Most Creative: Second Place: Mr. Popcorn’s Penguins

People’s Choice: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

People’s Choice: Second Place: Teacher from the Black Lagoon

Extra prizes were available, so judges recognized the following:

The Youngest Baker and The Most Complete Story: Pete the Cat

Creative: Lord of the Ringdings

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com