You’ve seen them around; the legions of Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML) fans, donning their signature tie-dyes, carrying their upcycled T-shirt book bags; children with painted faces, bubbles in their hair and chalk on their fingers. Some of them are familiar faces, some not, but they are all part of an enthusiastic group of people, both locals and seasonals, that make up the library’s summer surge.

“The region’s population multiplies and so do our efforts,” said Joanna Breen, BHML executive director. Our circulation rates more than double, and often our programming goes outside, weather depending, because there isn’t enough room inside for everyone. Even the door counter, which tells us how many times the door opens, escalates to about 250-plus per day during the summer months,” she said.

“(The surge) gives us the opportunity to try out new things, like Open Mic Night on the lawn,” said Bethany Schmidt, programs and technology manager. Movies on the lawn, guests for author talks, and some book clubs also see increased participation, especially in July and August.

“My husband’s family bought a cabin in Sprucewold in 1964. I first visited in 1965 and have been back many times since, first for a couple of weeks’ vacation and since retirement in 2007 for most of the summer. My dear friend, Laddie Drucker, introduced me to the library through the Monday night book club,” said Dotty Reilly. “I find the library staff extremely helpful and almost always able to help me find books I want to enjoy for summer reads on the porch or in front of the fireplace!”

Cara Pond has been summering in Ocean Point for nearly 40 years, in the cottage her husband grew up in. It was one of the original seven in Ocean Point, built in 1876.  “I married into this wonderful community 44 years ago. My husband has been coming here for over 65 years. He summered here as a child and our children have done the same. It's generational in our family; our grandchildren always looking forward to their time here,” she writes. “I love BHML book club and the fact that we can Zoom in from afar. It keeps us all connected throughout the year when we're not here.” Both Reilly and Pond join their book club via Zoom when they are in New Mexico and Florida, respectively, and look forward to their in-person meetings over the summer.

The summer surge is most evident in children’s programming. “The children's room becomes a very busy place in the summer! We have locals, regular summer folks, as well as those who are just here for a week and stop in to see what the Children's room has to offer,” said Jen Betts, children’s coordinator. “I get many families that return every summer, and it is really fun to see the changes in the kids each year. I have had many families tell me that the library is the first place the kids want to go when they return to town for the summer!”

“It’s encouraging to see how many families prioritize reading and visits to the library. I have so many voracious readers in the summer that the shelves start to look bare, and the return cart is often overflowing with books to be put back on the shelves,” said Betts.

“The Summer Reading Program and passports help create energy and excitement around summer reading,” Betts said.

“My kids asked to skip a half day of camp just to make sure they signed up for passports as soon as possible when the program kicked off during Windjammer Days! Last year when I asked my son Henry, what he looked forward to the most in Maine, he said ‘Summer Reading,’” said Jill Moorhead. Her family splits time between Houston and Boothbay. “As a family, we like completing the various summer reading challenges like the story on a trail at Oak Point Farm, reading on the beach, reading in a treehouse, and more,” she wrote. Her children, Henry and Charles, also enjoy Chess Club at the library, and the Moorheads have discovered that you can check out more than just books. “We have checked out a couple of games, a state park pass, a pass to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and a pass to the Maritime Museum. Checking out a telescope is on our to-do list.”

“Story time averages eight participants through the winter and swells to 30-35 in the summer and moves out on the lawn,” wrote Betts. “I have run Read & Watch Programs over the winter that averaged 10 participants and just had one this past Saturday on the lawn that had about 70!”

About 50 attended Movies on the Lawn to watch “Matilda.” The popular series continues with “Hidden Figures” on Aug. 2, “The Princess Bride” on Aug. 16, and “The Great Gatsby” on Sept. 6, weather permitting.