CARIBOU, Maine — Days before library director Peter Baldwin officially began overseeing the Nylander Museum, the Caribou City Council agreed to revisit their recent vote regarding the museum’s board of trustees at a future meeting.
In December, the council voted to dissolve the volunteer board and appoint Baldwin to oversee the museum’s budget and resources. Per city charter, Baldwin’s appointment went into effect on Jan. 12, 30 days after the vote.
Efforts to reach city mayor Jody Smith for comments regarding the origins of the Nylander board discussions have been unsuccessful.
The Nylander Museum of Natural History was founded in 1939, with namesake Olaf Nylander serving as its first curator. Most of the museum’s artifacts include Nylander’s personal collection of species taxonomies and photographs. Since its inception, the museum has existed as a city department within Caribou.
During a recent visit to the Nylander, Baldwin discussed his short-term goals, which include helping part-time employee Franco Scalora digitally catalog all of the museum’s artifacts. He also would like to create a virtual tour of the Nylander and reopen the museum to the public.
The Nylander closed in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and has mostly remained closed due to the lack of field trips from local schools and the risks associated with in-person gatherings.
Baldwin noted that he did not have major concerns about balancing his work at both the library and museum. He said he feels supported by city employees and councilors and does not believe that their decision is a step toward closing the museum.
“It’s going to be a big undertaking, but it’s something that I can definitely handle,” Baldwin said. “People want to see the museum up and running again.”
Scalora also expressed support for Baldwin’s appointment, noting that the board’s once-a-month meeting sometimes delayed decision making.
“I think having one solid director is going to make a big difference,” Scalora said.
But others remain concerned about the impact that Baldwin’s two positions could have on the library’s and museum’s services.
At a recent city council meeting, Councilor Lou Willey, a liaison member of the library’s board of trustees, asked if the council could place another Nylander discussion on their next agenda.
“Will we be looking for a new board [for the Nylander] at some point?” Willey said. “My library people are worried. They’ve got their plates full and I got the impression that it would be a stretch for one board to oversee two buildings.”
During the council’s Jan. 24 meeting, City Manager Penny Thompson said that city officials met with museum staff on Jan. 20 to discuss forming “a working board to help with staff and programming.”
“Staff is going to gauge interest from [potential] volunteers before bringing the idea to the council,” Thompson said.
Efforts to obtain comments from former Nylander board members have been unsuccessful.
The council’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in the council chambers at 25 High St.
