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Library Director
Charles M. Bailey Public Library
Since becoming director two years ago, Richard Fortin has âÂÂtransformedâ the Charles M. Bailey Public Library in Winthrop. Circulation and attendance have nearly doubled, and 500 new members joined in FortinâÂÂs first year, notes Margy Burns Knight, an author who nominated him for the Forty Under 40 award.
âÂÂThanks to Richard the library is, once again, a central part of our rural community,â Knight continues.
Mary Jane Auns, library board chair, notes âÂÂthe great increase in the number of teenagers and young adults who use the library.â Thanks to a stafferâÂÂs suggestion and FortinâÂÂs followup, the library now provides services to nursing home residents. Fortin encourages patrons to bring in food for the local pantry, in lieu of fines; he âÂÂcreated one of the best library Web sites in the state, and a mobile app for it,â adds Shelby Monroe of Lithgow Library in Augusta.
FortinâÂÂs view: âÂÂIâÂÂve been entrusted with a great responsibility to provide cultural resources and information to the public, and IâÂÂve just responded to what I saw people wanted. I donâÂÂt believe much in individual awards. I see this (award) more as a reflection on the Board of Trustees, the staff and the town.âÂÂ
Fortin grew up near Augusta and studied library science and photography at UMaine Augusta. âÂÂPublic service had always attracted me. When I was a boy, I wanted to be in the NHL.âÂÂ
He is also a professional photographer who particularly enjoys doing weddings in Maine settings such as Camden; a hockey player in a local menâÂÂs league; and a musician/songwriter whoâÂÂs played drums and guitars in several bands. Asked whom heâÂÂd choose to play the Forty Under 40 event at Hadlock, Fortin names PortlandâÂÂs The Other Bones and Brenda. He and his wife, Kristin, and their 5-year-old son, Ethan, live in Farmingdale.
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