Smith to become library director Aug. 1

LIVERMORE FALLS — Elaine Smith, who has worked at Treat Memorial Library off and on, volunteered at school libraries and has been a businesswoman, will become the new director of the library on Aug. 1.

“My love of books came from my mother who owned The Falls Book Barn in Farmington Falls,” Smith, 56, of Livermore Falls said.

Smith grew up in Wilton and Farmington Falls and graduated from Mt. Blue High School. Her parents were both teachers.

“I love libraries. I love books and I enjoy the community,” she said. “I hope to work well with the community and I hope to interact with the schools. I have lots of things I want to do. They are ideas still in the planning stages. I am extremely pleased to have Assistant Director Myra Rosenbaum working with me.”

Smith graduated from Thomas College with an associate degree in retail merchandising. She started working as a buyer for a clothing store in Augusta and moved on to become a clerk at the now defunct Stop 'N Go in Livermore Falls. It was a convenience store gas station at the corner of Main and Bridge streets where the Gateway Park is located.

That's where she met her husband, Kenny Smith. The couple has been together for 30 years and have two grown children and a granddaughter.

Many longtime community members probably know her as the former manager of Welby Super Drug, which used to be located in the Food City building. She worked her way up from part-time clerk and bookkeeper to manager and then went on to manage Rite Aid for three years, when the company took over Welby's.

She left that job to concentrate on her family and to volunteer in the schools and community. She volunteered at Livermore Falls High School library for eight years, and substituted in classrooms when needed. She also chaired a sports booster committee at the school for six years and ran the football and basketball concessions. She also served on the SAD 36 school board off and on during the years.

Smith worked as a library aide at the town library for two years before she opened her own business, the Book Nook, at the Food City plaza for three yeas. She then closed it and became caregiver for her parents. She returned to the library after the death of her parents. She also volunteered this past year at the Livermore Elementary School library.

She is currently in training for the director's position.

dperry@sunjournal.com