Library Connections: Belonging

Now that winter is (mostly) behind us, we can again start making plans without looking at the weather report. The winter season is perhaps the most difficult for us because the drive into town is not always easy or assured.

During those dreary months, the Orr’s Island Library has provided a welcome diversion. Some have come in to warm by the fire with a cup of coffee or tea. Others accessed email and the internet on our public computers. Still others got confidential technology help or book recommendations from Librarian Anne Wilkes. It has been a comfortable place of belonging.

Now that spring has arrived, engagement with others is increasing. The library’s popular First Thursday series has already featured programs on winter sowing, beekeeping and making chocolate. Local children, a small group but an essential part of Harpswell’s future, were able to gather for an Easter egg hunt.

This month, programming ramps up further. In celebration of National Poetry Month, Craig Sipe will be reading from his new book, “Here It Comes … and It’s Gone,” at the monthly Community Tea on Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. Ed Robinson also returns with a First Thursday program: “Iceland: The Wildlife of Fire and Ice.”

As our programming shows, the Orr’s Island Library has an exclusive focus on the needs of the town of Harpswell. Community programming is most visible. However, it is the 9,000 regularly updated book titles that are the main draw. Where else but at a local library can you check out a new bestseller without being put on a long waitlist?

Naturally, there are limitations on what we can or should do, both physically and financially. This is where collaboration with other local nonprofits becomes essential — and fun.

The Orr’s Island Library regularly collaborates with the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department. Our kids’ programs — trunk or treat, visit from Santa, and the Easter egg hunt — draw local children out of the woodwork. These and other children’s events have a hidden goal: to show children that the library is a welcoming place with a large selection of books that encourage reading.

Teaching winter sowing to the Harpswell Girl Scouts in January did more than provide a good time playing in the dirt. It built on their program from last year when they distributed pollinator plants to the community.

Frequent partnerships with Harpswell Aging at Home include the weekly free vegetable sharing table, available on the library lawn throughout the growing season.

Many local businesses sell the library’s annual Harpswell calendar, which financially benefits the library and promotes the town of Harpswell with beautiful local photos. The 2025 calendar, called “Harpswell from the Water,” will be available in May.

Summer will soon be here and our personal schedules will fill up rapidly. The Orr’s Island Library will again offer monthly programs for adults, special author talks and engaging children’s programs, all without leaving town. The pop-up Books on the Lawn and annual August book sale regularly draw in eager readers. Our location on Harpswell Islands Road is a frequent stopping point for visitors looking for a good Wi-Fi connection, summer beach reading, our well-stocked used bookstore, a place to work remotely, or simply directions to local attractions.

The schedule of upcoming events is located on our website and in the Harpswell Anchor Community Calendar. Past presentations are uploaded to our new YouTube channel (Orrs Island Library).

Harpswell is most fortunate to have three libraries that meet distinctly different needs. Should you want libraries with a distinctive Harpswell flavor, the Orr’s Island Library and Cundy’s Harbor Library are exceptional resources. For broader purposes, Curtis Memorial Library is a valuable option.

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This article was written just after the March Town Meeting. We are most thankful for the financial assistance of the town and people of Harpswell. That support is essential to our ability to provide services to the Harpswell community and to encourage the sense of belonging that defines our town.

As always, look for the open flag and drop in. We would be delighted to show you around and perhaps offer you a book or two … or three …

Daniel Hoebeke is the president of the Orr’s Island Library Board of Directors. For more information about the library, go to orrsislandlibrary.org, find the library on Facebook and YouTube, or visit in person at 1699 Harpswell Islands Road, Orr’s Island.

“Library Connections” is a monthly column that rotates among the three libraries that serve Harpswell: Cundy’s Harbor, Orr’s Island and Curtis Memorial.