Orr’s Island Library board members welcomed longtime patrons and visitors on a recent Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 125th anniversary of a “vital gathering place” for the small community.
Patrons, some with children in tow, filtered in, stopping to chat with Librarian Anne Wilkes and pick out a book from the young adult shelves. Board President Daniel Hoebeke showed newcomers around while other board members visited with regulars.
Hoebeke said the small library has been unusually busy this month. Wilkes reported that the first four days of August had seen as many visitors as all of August last year.
In February, the library reported that patron visits increased 66% from 2023 to 2024 and library loans increased 36%.
“It’s been absolutely extraordinary,” Hoebeke said. “People see the sign out front and this quaint little building, they come inside and cool off and find 10,000 books.”
Wilkes has served as librarian since 2022, but has been visiting since she was a child to borrow books and help with the annual book sale. Readers love fiction, she said, and thrillers and mysteries are always popular.
“And people love Maine authors, children and adults alike,” she said.
The library offers guest passes to visit the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, which is featuring an exhibition about children’s author Chris Van Dusen.
This year’s adventure backpacks for children, an initiative introduced in 2024, include maps of Harpswell Heritage Land Trust trails, a picture book or graphic novel for a middle reader, and a kit to make a birdhouse out of books.
“Some adults take them out too, for fun,” Wilkes said.
Recently, the library has increased its focus on younger readers. During the book sale, Hoebeke said, he met a young girl looking for graphic novels.
“I said, ‘Are you visiting?’ and she said, ‘Yeah,’ and I said, ‘Get a free library card, read them while you’re here and drop them off before you go home,'” Hoebeke recalled. “The look on her face was one of pure joy. (I told her mother), ‘We just want to provide services for you while you’re here so that you can enjoy your time on the island.'”
Hoebeke, who now lives on the island year-round, has volunteered at the book sale each year since 1985.
“Over the years we have looked at what the needs of the community are and the library has really done its best to adapt to those needs,” Hoebeke said. “We’re always looking for new ideas.”
In addition to books and programs, the library offers free public computers and printers and a strong, secure Wi-Fi signal. It also serves as a cooling center and, in winter months, as a warming center open 24 hours a day and staffed by board members and volunteers.
The institution also works with other nonprofits, such as Harpswell Aging at Home, to meet the community’s needs. For example, it hosts a sharing table every Wednesday where anyone can pick up free produce.
“People can take as much as they want and contribute from their own gardens,” Hoebeke said. “We set up between 12 and 12:30 and by 2 p.m. there’s nothing left. Fresh vegetables are important and are very expensive.”
John Henning, who spends summers on the island, visited Sunday to pore over fiction titles in the library’s used book store.”I’ve been coming to the library since I was a little kid,” he said. “It’s a vital gathering place and it gives people something to do on a rainy day.”
