The Southport Memorial Library has gone through a few changes over the past 108 years.

It has morphed from a small building on Landing Road, with books brought to Southport by two sisters sometime before 1906, into the modern structure it is today.

According to notes written by librarian Linda Brewer, the two sisters, Susan and Rebecca Zabrinski, came to Newagen from New York with a lot of books. When they discovered that Southport Island was without a library, they started lending them from their cottage.

In 1906 they transferred the books to a small building on Landing Road and called it the Bayberry Camp Library.

A 15-year-old girl named Edith (Gray) Snowman was hired as the first librarian in 1909. She retired in 1959 after manning the library desk for 50 years.

In 1947, the one room schoolhouse at Newagen became vacant and the town decided to make it the town library. It was dedicated on Memorial Day 1948 and has been the first stop each year since for the town's Memorial Day parade.

Private donations, along with annual monetary gifts from the Zabrinski sisters, kept the library going and provided income for the acquisition of new books.

A new room was added on in the ’60s and a third room, funded almost entirely by private donations, was added sometime later.

Linda Brewer took over as librarian in 1989 when Flo Walker, the fifth librarian, retired. Brewer remains in that post today.

In 1999, a fourth room, again funded by private donations, was built. In the notes written by Brewer, she stated, “We thought that would be it.”

It was. For a while.

A few years later library aides started a campaign to raise funds for some much needed updates, including a handicapped accessible bathroom, an office, and storage space. Several volunteers formed a group for the purpose of fundraising, and called themselves “Friends of Southport Library.” Jean Hawley was instrumental in jumpstarting it.

Plans were drawn up by Roger Roche of Southport, who died recently, and revised by Lyn Talako of Royal Barry Wills Associates.

The addition was built by Matt Cole of Southport and his crew, and on Memorial Day weekend in 2009, the ribbon was cut for the new two story 30 by 80-foot addition. On the bottom floor is an open airy room with a modern front desk built by Mike Elkins. And there are two new handicapped accessible bathrooms, an elevator and 12 closets for storage.

A couple years ago the Southport Island Association raised funds for a garden dedicated to the memory of Rachel Carson.

Floors and ceilings have been refinished in the older part of the library, including the children's room, and other than some painting the library is in shipshape condition and the helpful, friendly librarians and volunteers make for a pleasant atmosphere when looking for a good read. You can choose from some 35,000 books. There is also a large selection of DVDs and VHS movies, music CDs, and books on tape to choose from.

And aside from lending books and movies the library offers a space for groups to gather for coffee and conversation.

The Coffee Clatch, a discussion group consisting of an eclectic mix of men and women, meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 or 9:30 a.m. to “solve the problems of the world,” according to Donald Duncan.

He said the group consists of “doctors, at least two rabid baseball fanatics, a highly educated technologist, a long-term resident of the island who longs for simpler days, a highly intelligent dog, a seeker of news for the paper, a museum curator and a skillful baker of monkey bread.” Duncan invites anyone with an interest in anything to drop in so that “you too may have wasted a perfectly good hour.” Coffee and an unbelievable variety of goodies are provided, he said.

Other groups who meet at the library are:

• Knitters and quilters: A group of women who on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. to work on their crafty projects and visit with each other.
• Children's story hour: Kathy Barter leads the group of kids at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays with stories and arts and crafts, and on birthdays children are presented with a cake and a bag of books.
• Monthly book club: On the third Thursday of each month this group meets at 7 p.m.
• Artist of the Month: Sandra Seifert hangs new art shows every two months.

If all of this isn't enough, the library sponsors an annual “MLK Day Souper Bowl” community lunch in January that is usually attended by 80-100 people; a book-and-bake sake every first Friday in August; a Valentine's Day celebration for children; a Christmas in July arts and crafts fair; a Veterans Day Observance in November (the only one in the region); and a decorations, baked goods and arts and crafts sale in December. The library has also held two memorial services and a Valentine's Day wedding.

Because the Southport School doesn't have a library, the Southport Memorial Library is also the school's library, and students are bussed there regularly.

A “user-friendly” library, librarian Linda Brewer welcomes the public to come and visit, and will lend books to anyone interested. “We have always allowed off-island people to use the library free of charge. We've never had any problem,” she said.

Brewer said some people who were staying on the island for a week or two last summer wanted to borrow books. “And every one of them was returned.”

The library also offers free passes to the Farnsworth and Portland art museums.

If you're ever looking for a nice quiet spot to while away a few pleasant hours, or in need of a good read or movie, or just want to check out the Southport Memorial Library, take a drive out to 1032 Hendricks Hill Road on Southport and drop in. You can get a cup of coffee mornings, and free Internet access anytime. The staff will welcome you with a smile and may offer you your own library card.

Hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In July and August, additional hours are Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 207-633-2741.