I Spy a Happy Little Library Patron

Dyer Library

312 Main St., Saco 207-283-3861

Today three of us—two grandparents and three-year-old Bea—visited the Dyer Library in Saco. We’ve driven by it for years, and now we wish we’d stopped sooner. It’s actually the Dyer Library and Saco Museum. We’re planning to go back another day when the museum is open. 

The library has a lot of history. Initially housed in the basement of Saco City Hall and funded by a bequest from Olive Dyer, the library opened in 1881. In 1955 the library moved to its current location in what was the home of one of its Board members, Frank Cutter. Described as a classic example of Italianate style residence with Colonial Revival adaptations as a library, Dyer is rightfully listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s beautifully painted in red and gold, glowing even on a rainy day. 

Even though the museum was closed, there is much history in the library itself, including some fantastic photos and relics of trolley history and a special history room—again something we are planning to see on our next visit. 

There was also a large glass case housing an I Spy diorama that captured and held Bea’s attention for a long time. Four pages of things to find, some Maine themed and many cleverly hidden. Bea was also right at home in the Reed Children’s Room, happy to make snacks for her grandfather in the very impressive kitchen set up and happy to find some books to take out. I liked the way the collection was arranged and particularly appreciated that there was a small section explaining decoding for would-be readers and their grownups, together with a preselected shelf for decoding books. We took out See Zip Zap, not much on plot but great on phonics and Bea wanted to read it more than once!

As we were leaving, I read the bulletin board, a habit of mine, just like reading the classifieds, that I’ve been following since I used these to avoid study time for the bar exam. Dyer has a lot going on including morning, afternoon, and cookbook reading groups. I was also lucky in my timing to find that on May 28 their guest speaker for the evening is an old friend of mine, Kate Flora. An award-winning mystery writer, Katie is helping celebrate national mystery month with a talk entitled Behind the Mysteries. I’m planning to go early enough to tour around more of the library.

On our way down to Saco from South Portland, we stopped at Sweet & Co, a gluten-free bakery near the library at 294 Main St. We had a great egg sandwich and some CiniMinis. The place was pleasantly busy, and simply and cleanly decorated. Bea told us she thought its previous name must have been Bees given all the honeycombs around.

And as we were leaving we discovered a great playground at the Biddeford Community Center at 189 Alfred Street. consortium—the Chickadee Library Consortium, where one of their libraries, Casco, is open every day of the week, including Sunday. Having been in the unenviable position of having to explain to a two year old why we couldn’t go to the library when it was closed on the weekend, we were impressed with this commitment.

Of course, we started in the Children’s Room, which is filled to the brim with books and activities. It’s really a happy and welcoming space. There were a huge number of activity backpacks to take out and a lot of activities right there. Bea was immediately enticed by the makers’ table inviting kids in with some terrific craft supplies. She settled right in and created a fish with their paint sticks. (Having tried my luck, mostly unsuccessfully, with various paint sticks, I called them later and asked what brand they were. The librarian said they’d been a gift to the library and were labeled as ArtPop, Washable Tempera Paint Stick Set. 

We weren’t able to check books out from Bridgton on our York library card, though we could have received a Bridgton card on the spot. (In-person borrowing privileges extend among libraries that participate in reciprocal borrowing. I’m still not entirely sure why some libraries participate and others do not. The Maine State Library website suggests it’s because some libraries’ computer systems aren’t up to it, and it does appear that everyone on the list uses the same three cataloguing systems. But there must be something more to it. For example, some small libraries like Calais Free Library or Liberty Library are in, and some big libraries like Curtis in Brunswick appear to be out. In any case, there’s a list here, but apparently it changes often so it’s best to check just before you go.) 

We did, however, leave with one of several brown-bag take-home projects, a watering can and flowers. Bea and I made this version for her parents, and you know they just loved it.

Before we left, we bought a Bridgton Library mug to add to our growing collection, and Bea and her grandfather donated to the library—a tradition we plan to continue.