From Patron to Leader: Laura Edwards Named Jesup Interim Director
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
BAR HARBOR—If you walk by Laura Edwards on the street in Bar Harbor or on Great Meadow Loop, she will smile at you and greet you with a meaningful hello. If you see her behind the Jesup Memorial Library circulation desk, she will take care of you quietly and lovingly with a sort of ease and gentleness coupled with brilliance and aptitude that isn’t really commonplace.
That’s Laura Edwards.
She’s not commonplace.
She’s a quiet mover and shaker behind the scenes of things she cares about—things like the library, people, stories, flowers, her family. She is a person who builds things up, bit by bit, story by story, conversation and idea by conversation and idea.
Even at her home, she and her husband plant seed after seed, bulb after bulb, flower after flower, to create a roadside (and perpendicular) garden that doesn’t just celebrate the large showy plants, but also the smaller blossoms that seem more meant for a magical fairy world than the streets of Bar Harbor.
This Monday, June 30, the Jesup Memorial Library announced that Laura Edwards will be the library’s interim director as it begins its search for Matt DeLaney’s replacement.
In May, DeLaney announced that he is retiring for personal reasons and another job opportunity. He is relocating to the Vermont area. DeLaney has led the library through its multi-million dollar fundraising and $9.1-million expansion project as well as been its advocate for financial support from the town.
In early June, it was announced that DeLaney was named the Manchester Community Library’s executive director. That begins August 1. The Jesup’s expansion is projected to be complete at the end of this year, 2025.
“The Jesup is thrilled to announce that Laura Edwards will step into the role of Interim Director in mid-July. Laura's journey with the Jesup is deeply rooted in service and community,” the library wrote in a press release.
Edwards’ first interaction with the library was as a patron taking out books. She’s served on its board, volunteered, filled in for staff, and eventually became a staff member, serving as the circulation manager for more than ten years.
About her appointment, Edwards said, “I feel so lucky to be working with such a wonderful group of people, at a place that I love and am honored to lead the Jesup until a new director is hired.”
The library wrote, “Laura’s experience, dedication, and love for the Jesup make her the ideal person to lead the library during this period of transition.”
The library has already formed a search committee, which it says is comprised of “members of the board of directors and community stakeholders.”
Edwards lives with her husband in Bar Harbor.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
TO APPLY: Qualified candidates are encouraged to review the job posting and apply via this link.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIBRARY visit the library’s website: www.jesuplibrary.org.
All images except the first via the Bar Harbor Story. The first image is courtesy of the Jesup Memorial Library.
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The first convo I ever had with Laura was about face blindness, maybe 10 years ago. She was fascinated because she had never heard of such a thing before. She promised to say hi to me if she ever saw me somewhere else, because I wouldn't recognize her outside of the libary! LOL
I was lucky enough to work with Laura at the library for 20 years. She is awesome! A great choice to lead the library during this interim period.