Stonington library hires new director with education and museum background

Jan. 17, 2026

By staff

Ethan Yankura settled into his new role this month. Photo courtesy of Stonington Public Library,

STONINGTON—The Stonington Public Library has hired a new director, its board of trustees announced in a press release on Jan. 16.

Ethan Yankura, a Deer Isle resident with a deep background in education and museums, took up the position this month.

Yankura worked for nearly 20 years at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. He later served as the executive director of the Children’s House Montessori School in Camden, the General Henry Knox Museum in Thomaston, and the Seal Cove Auto Museum in Seal Cove.

A native of West Gardiner, Yankura is a graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington and holds a bachelor’s degree in education.

“Libraries and books have been a lifelong passion for me, and I have watched libraries transform from simple lending repositories to community resources for a wide variety of educational and entertainment programs and materials,” Yankura said. “I look forward to carrying on the wonderful work done by my predecessors in Stonington and to continuing and expanding the valuable and engaging programs the community has grown to expect from its library. I look forward to meeting each of you and learning what you would like to see, from books and library materials, to services and programs.”

Yankura and his wife, Jenna Lookner, who is an automotive columnist and editor with The Rising Tide, moved to Deer Isle during a snowstorm in 2022. In a letter to library patrons this  month, Yankura recalled their arrival on the island when their 26-foot U-Haul truck slid off the driveway. A neighbor pulled them out with his tractor.

“When I tried to give him a thank you gift, he refused, telling me, ‘When you see someone in trouble, stop and help them out.’ Such was our introduction to living on the island,” Yankura wrote.

While in college, Yankura worked at the circulation desk at the campus library. His first job after college was as the school librarian at the Strong Elementary School.

At the Owls Head Transportation Museum, Yankura oversaw the organization’s extensive research library and archives. He was also responsible for programs and activities, a focus the library’s trustees said Yankura will apply to his new role.

“From children’s and family workshops making kites, electric powered cars, and tissue paper hot air balloons, to lecture series, live theater, and hands on workshops for adults, creating and delivering programming are a passion that [Yankura] looks forward to continuing with the Stonington Public Library,” the library trustees said in their announcement.

The day after the library’s announcement, Yankura was at WinterFest on Deer Isle, making balloon animals for children. At a table next to him, his counterparts from Chase Emerson Memorial Library worked with children to make models out of clay.

“Libraries have become community centers,” Yankura said. “Libraries have an opportunity to engage young readers in a hands-on way. Activities, such as balloon animals, provide a bridge to books and literature.”

The library is located at 64 Main Street in downtown Stonington. For a full list of hours, activities and services, visit their website.