Curtis Memorial Library’s Executive Director to Retire July 2026

Isaacson, Miller Conducting National and Regional Search

BRUNSWICK, Maine – After nearly 20 years leading Curtis Memorial Library as Executive Director, Elisabeth “Liz” Doucett will retire this summer in July. Board President Tahnthawan Coffin shared, “Liz has skillfully led the library through the 2008 recession, the closing of Brunswick Naval Air Station, COVID, and federal funding cuts. Curtis has thrived under Liz’ leadership – launching the nationally-recognized Library of Things and the EV-Bookmobile, getting certified by the Sustainable Library Initiative, hosting illustration exhibits by Garth Williams and Robert McCloskey and growing the Endowment Fund to over $8 million. Liz has also been a careful steward of the library’s buildings, restoring the original windows and doors in the 1904 Building, “greening” the mezzanine, updating the lobby in the 1999 addition, and preserving and now adding to Curtis’ art collection.”   

During Liz’ tenure, she established and championed the Creative Hive and the Genealogy Room along with extensive genealogy programming; introduced Little Free Libraries throughout Brunswick; wrote the updated history of Curtis Library from 1972 to 2023 and several books published by the American Library Association; and digitized and made searchable the Times Record historical database. Recognized nationally and regionally under Liz’ leadership, Curtis received two American Library Association grants totaling $200,000 to teach financial literacy; was a 2009 recipient of a Baker & Taylor Product Award Grant and a 2024 recipient of the John Cotton Dana Award for Library Public Relations; and was voted “Best Library in Maine” by the readers of DownEast Magazine from 2017 to 2019.

A Search Committee, chaired by former Board President Karen Budd, has chosen the Boston-based executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to conduct a national and regional search for Curtis Memorial Library’s next Executive Director. “Liz is leaving the library – its facilities, finances and staff – in such a strong position for its next leader,” said Karen.  

Isaacson, Miller’s Becca Kennedy of Freeport is the lead on this search. To view the job description and link to the application, visitcurtislibrary.com/jobs-curtis.