LEWISTON – When Rick Speer took over leadership of the public library, it was a small, modest space in downtown Lewiston. The main entrance faced Park Street and few people had heard of the Internet or online searches.

Times have changed. The library is now a sprawling space expanded to a building on Lisbon Street. There are computers with Internet access and readers can search the volumes from their own homes. This year, the Lewiston Public Library began a $2.7 million expansion and renovation, which will include a historical records archive and a meeting and performance space for 150 people.

“We’ve gone from a tiny building to a modern library,” Speer said.

Next month, Speer will be awarded a New York Times Librarian Award, a citation reserved for those librarians whose leadership has made their libraries friendlier and more accessible.

“I was totally shocked when I got the call,” Speer said.

The secret gets out

The call in question came last week. Speer was notified that he is one of 27 librarians who will receive the award in December. It was mostly a secret, but in libraries and small cities, secrets don’t last too long.

“Word has started getting around,” Speer said.

Speer expects to travel to New York on Dec. 15 to accept the award along with 26 other librarians from around the country. He’ll receive $2,500 and a plaque.

If Speer had his way, he would take this colleagues and certain members of the community with him.

“The recognition is great,” he said. “But there has been so much support – so much has gone into the development of this library.”

Speer, who has been librarian in Lewiston for two decades, said his staff and volunteers from the Friends of the Library deserve at least as much credit as he does.

One of 12 chosen

The New York Times Librarian Awards is a national program honoring 27 public librarians from across the country each year. The organization recognizes 12 public librarians from across the nation and 15 from New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut. People nominating librarians for consideration were asked to choose people “who consistently demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism, knowledge and public service in the execution of their duties.”

According to the NYTLA Web site, the criteria then used to select the award recipients included:

• Quality of the service the nominee has provided to the public.

• Knowledge of the library and its resources demonstrated by the nominee.

• Commitment shown by the nominee to helping the public.