I heart libraries. And Portland Public is a great one!…read more There are many things that make a great library, and here are a few that Portland Public offers: 1. Friendly, helpful librarians 2. Free wi-fi and public computers 3. Beautiful open spaces, full of books! 4. Great book selection, with the classics and lots new-to-the-shelves 5. Wonderful children's section with bountiful books and daily activities 6. Availability of e-books and audio-books for those who are so inclined 7. Nice seating areas 8. Easy return and re-new options 9. Local benefits for library card holders (tickets, and discounts, and stuff) 10. Great central location, in the heart of the city (and also really close to my work so I can visit often!) Thanks Portland Public for being great! See you soon - I've got some books to return and some new ones waiting for me!

I love this libary it's has art stuff a lot anyways I will come back so soon maybe in 2026read more

PROS: - Open to everyone, even the public! However,…read morestudents get privilege for the study rooms, computers, etc. which is reasonable since they pay for tuition - 7 floors of study areas - Cafe (floor 5) includes vending machines and an instant coffee machine, microwave, newspapers, and room for studying. CONS: - Limited seating areas during midterms/finals week which is expected - Sometimes dirty desks in study rooms (i.e. food stains). I don't believe they clean the library very often. TIPS: - Can park at meters if not a student (free after 6pm weekdays and free all day on the weekends)

I'm an online student who takes classes through another school. I live very closely to the USM…read morelibrary and it's an easy place for me to go to work on schoolwork. However, their internet does not allow me to get into my own school's research database. It's rather inconvenient. :/

Library is equipped with free WiFi, friendly staff and has large collection of books on different…read morecategories. It has got a spacious room to read books of your interest. It always fascinates me reading about the Space and beyond.! This library has few cool books related to Space and Technology. Definitely a good place to visit and give some exercise to the brain.

This is a great stop for families. The decor is reminiscent of the mod decor era, which I love. The…read morekids area is huge. There was a huge selection of books plus fun manipulative toys for every age, computers, puzzles, etc. I didn't see any crafting but my kids were entertained for nearly two hours between choosing books and playing with their other goodies. I glanced at the activities offered and this is a very active library in the community. We love visiting libraries and this was definitely one of my faves.

Love it here! I love to read and come here frequently to check books out. The people checking the…read morebooks out are always so sweet and pleasant. The inside is very clean and tidy! And they have lots of great books even some brand new ones! They seem to have lots of events for children as well. Glad this is the library in my town!

A work in…read moreprogress The Walker Memorial Library is Westbrook was constructed back in 1894 from private donations from the Walker family. Lots of libraries during that time period were built by money from individual citizens or families. The library is lovely from the outside, a huge and looming Gothic type of structure that was typical of the time. And like many lovely libraries built over a century ago soon proved to be too small so various additions were added over the years. The library is once again being renovated to make it more efficient and user friendly for the twenty first century. Unfortunately that means the very old part is going to be closed to the public for a while. Too bad, because as far as I'm concerted that is the best part. The library still is pretty cool but not nearly as large as it looks from the outside. Still has just about everything you would expect from a library but you kind of have to put up with the construction being done. Hard to really give this library it's full due. It does have some very cool windows, lots of flowers both inside and out and some friendly librarians. Not a whole lot of books and other materials or cool places to sit but then a large portion of the cool library isn't available. Hopefully the money will be raised and the work finally completed and the venerable, historic and lovely old library will once again be ready to continues into the next century.

I have been coming to this branch for about 20 yrs. It is one of my favorite spots in the whole…read morewide world! I have a love for books and reading and this location is wonderful! The staff is always friendly and helpful. They are great when it comes to a new recommendation or helping you hunt down a book from another branch. They have a storyline for young ones. Today I was unable to find an author I was looking for and the librarian was quick to find who I was looking for and make the request from the Main branch in downtown Portland they will reach out when it arrives and I can hopefully start it this weekend!

This afternoon's "office" was the Scarborough library where I had a productive day. Clean, quiet,…read morewell stocked and with a free wifi that worked really well. It's great that they allow non-residents to use the library - you just can't borrow materials and that's okay by me! [Review 18560 overall - 111 in Maine - 2082 of 2022.]

Scarborough residents are so lucky to have this library in their town. What a beautiful space! The…read morestaff is incredible -- always helpful and friendly. They have a vast book selection, and the amount of community events is impressive for a library this small and a town of this size. Their hours of operation are also very convenient. I've been visiting regularly and love every minute I get to spend there

The library is wonderful in every way. You can easily reserve a book and, in most cases, the…read morelibrary will order a book you recommend for purchase. Staff is very knowledgeable and pleasant. A real gem.

A little lighthouse…read moreof knowledge The Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth is a very long library. I couldn't find out much about the history of the building but I suspect it had an original part built by William Widgery Thomas and then kept growing and expanding through the years. A very distinctive and unique place that just oozes charm and charisma. Even through it has been around for a while the library is very modern and has all the conveniences that would expect. Lot of the books, magazines and a cool young adult room, children's room and even a lounge area where people can unload their kids while they look around. A very user friendly place. But just being functional and pleasant isn't what makes this library so special. It is a very cool building with all kinds of great art and history. Such a strange and long building, it has surprises around ever corner. We had a great time here because everyone, from the librarians to the other users of the library, were just so pleasant and friendly. Still a place to meet and talk to people and not just look for books. The outside or the library is lovely with gardens and flowers everywhere. Everything about his library is so unique, cool and special. I've been to a whole lot of libraries but the William Widgery Thomas library is definitely in my top five. It is that cool and special. William Widgery Thomas summed it up when he wrote, " I hope that this will prove a little lighthouse of knowledge... It is for you, inhabitants of Cape Elizabeth, to keep the lamp burning so that it shall shine over this town forever".

Books scopes and…read moreHulk The Falmouth Library was opened in 1952 after the Library Association purchased a private home and converted it into a library. After several additions and renovations it now is a pleasant and spacious place that continues to serve the town and it's people. The Falmouth Library is one of those libraries with all kinds of cool stuff inside. Some serious, some fun and some stuff just whimsical and foolish. The kids section is obvious well used by the local ankle bitters and is a place to play, have fun, and perhaps even learn a thing of two. The library has a community room in the basement and even has a little telescope patrons can rent out. Falmouth is a library with a whole lot to do. Pretty amazing for a town of only 11,000 people.

Following first speculation I saw online of Novel closing then after they confirmed they would be…read moreclosing my wife wanted to make sure we came by before that! She is a book lover and we both love our coffees and cocktails. This is a spot that offers all of that and is a third space I think that has been popular and will in general be missed. We even visited during their opening day back in December 2023. They will be closing their doors on April 17th 2026. I will say that due to them getting their books from a local used bookstore they do not have the latest and greatest selection of books that you'd expect if they were a bookstore. I have not had complaints during any of our visits here. I have enjoyed their coffee as well as their chai lattes along with enjoyed all the cocktails I have tried. I have especially enjoyed the espresso martinis and have liked the fact you could in fact get the coffee drinks and cocktails any time of their hours opened. During the majority of their time open they would offer specialty espresso martinis as well. Some of my favorite cities to visit have many coffee cafe meets cocktail bar and is a concept I wish were more popular in Portland. It is a difficult time currently for all and any local business so with yet another closing I encourage you to support your favorite places when and how you can! Cheers to Novel and thanks for the space you offered to locals and visitors!

A place like Novel was long overdue in Downtown Portland. Coffee, cocktails, and books all day…read morelong? Yes, please. And they're open on Mondays?! The minute I walked in, I was surprised by how big the space was. But heads up, it's already a popular spot. I assumed a Monday visit would mean a quiet, empty cafe, but nope. Every table, couch, and chaise was taken, so I grabbed a seat at the bar. Not a problem, but if you're expecting a hidden gem, this isn't that. The ambiance was cool, hip, and laid-back. It's the kind of place where being solo feels encouraged. The only group chatting while I was there was practically whispering, so if you're looking for a catch-up spot with friends, this probably isn't it. But if you're in town alone and want a good drink and some quiet time, then it's the perfect spot. I ordered The Raven, and it was a delicious and balanced drink, just pricier than expected at $14 (though that's sadly the new norm in Portland). I also got a Negroni, which I just asked for offhand, and surprisingly, it was great and cheaper than my cocktail. Wish I'd known that was an option first. Overall, a fantastic addition to Portland and one I'll absolutely be back to.

What the heck is a map library? Is it a library full of maps?! YES!…read more For a map geek like me, the fact that this place exists just makes me happy. After all, I did make maps for a living for several years and maps are just cool...especially old ones! Today I learned the Osher Map Library has the second largest collection of maps in the U.S. (U.S. Library of Congress is number 1). I was walking by the library, so I decided to step in for a few minutes to check it out. They have a nice collection of old, rare, and restored globes when you enter the library. The staff let me take a peek a booklet which depicted the process of restoring and digitalizing old globes. Pretty neat stuff. Next, I was taken to the current exhibit hall to see their current display (Masterpieces at USM: Celebrating Five Centuries of Rare Maps and Globes). This is a great display of the beauty and history of cartography. The exhibit starts with the first modern map (1475) and from there you will see maps from around the world from the 15th to 19th centuries. It's amazing to look at these maps. It'll only take 15-20 minutes to go through the exhibit hall. If you do stop by, make sure to pay special attention to the drawings that surround the maps. Imagine trying to draw a giraffe if you have never even seen a picture of one! Unfortunately I had to take a phone call halfway through the visit, so I felt bad as the really nice woman working there had to wait for me as I simultaneously held a conversation on the phone and went through the exhibit. Five stars for her patience, giving me a quick tour, answering my questions, and some free map cards!

From the owner: As an integral part of a comprehensive metropolitan university within the University of Maine…read moreSystem, the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education [OML] is committed to preserving the cartographic heritage of the state, region, and nation for future generations, and to making that heritage accessible to the University, the people of Maine, and to all other students, scholars, and visitors. It shares its collections through exhibitions and through collaborative efforts with other cultural institutions. It seeks to interpret its collections ~ to make them intellectually accessible ~ through classes, exhibitions, and other outreach programs.