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.

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!

If you live near the Riverton school, this is a very convenient satellite location for the library…read more Sometimes, I don't want to deal with the hassle of driving into downtown and finding a parking space. I'll head to the Riverton location which has a ton of books with a big selection of choices. I like that I can get my books delivered to this location if they don't have it. That way I can walk over and pick them up whenever they are available. My only quibble with this site is the weird hours that aren't very convenient sometimes. I know it's a satellite location but still I would like them to have more regular hours. I like that they are open on Saturday but I wish it was for longer. Thursdays are convenient because they stay open until 8pm so if you work late, there is time to get there and browse.

Even though I wasn't a resident of sopo, the staff were very helpful in figuring out how to check…read moreout books, and even helpped me renew my Falmouth Library card! Sweet, kind, and understanding people!

Book bridges and…read moregolf There are much larger, older, historic and certainly more aesthetically pleasing libraries than the Memorial Branch of the South Portland Library but I have certainly never seen one with a golf course before. The small library is reached by crossing over a cool little bridge into the upstairs of a building that the library shares with the pro shop of a municipal golf course. They also share the same little parking lot and you can get some nice views of the golf course from upstairs in the library. We saw people from both the pro shop and library oddly moving around together. For some reason this odd juxtaposition of rather dissimilar services seems to work quite well. Neither seems to be bothered by the presence of the other in the least. The library is a typical small branch library, convenient, well organized but small and a bit limited in the selection of materials. However it is nicely decorated and the librarians were very friendly. A strange but very cool little library where you not only get to find some books, do some research, use the wifi and just maybe get in a round of golf.

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.

Don't be thrown by the location - this is a neighborhood gem. We went in right before closing with…read moretwo energetic kids. The staff could not have been more kind or helpful. They took time to get down to the physical level of my four year old, asking him what he liked and helped give us recommendations for his first chapter books. The diverse books and Maine authors featured made me really happy and although the shop is small, there was quite a wide variety. They also made it very easy to order anything they didn't have in stock. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Great place and very helpful service. The woman with whom I dealt even mailed the gift certificate…read moreI bought!

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.