A
History
The Skidompha Library Association is a nonprofit,
501(c)(3) organization responsible for providing library
programs and services to the residents of Damariscotta,
Newcastle, Nobleboro and the greater Pemaquid Peninsula.
The name "Skidompha" reflects the history of
the Association. In the 1880s, a social literary club was
formed first to raise money for a new pipe organ at the
Damariscotta Methodist Church, and later, to discuss and
collect books prevalent at the time. SKIDOMPHA
is an acronym formed from
letters in the names of club members who appeared in an 1885
production of "The Mikado" – one of the
group’s successful fund-raisers.
In 1905, the Skidompha Library Association was
incorporated and its collection of 1476 books was given to
the three towns (Damariscotta, Newcastle and Nobleboro,) as
the start of a Free Public Library. The library was
established over the Charles M. Jones Grocery Store on Main
Street.
By 1922, the collection numbered more than 6000 volumes
and more space was needed. The Skidompha Club joined with
the Damariscotta-Newcastle Women’s Club to purchase the
Dixon property on Main Street. In early October 1922, the
Library reopened on the first floor of this historic 1803
house, and the Women’s Club used the second floor for
meetings and social events.
In 1997, The Library Association was faced with the same
problem as its predecessors over 75 years before: lack of
space. The collection had grown significantly. Despite a modest addition to the
Dixon House in the 1980s, there was simply not enough room
to meet the demands of a growing and diverse population.
Barbara Cooney Porter, internationally acclaimed
children’s book author/illustrator and Damariscotta
resident, led the way to a new Library facility. Mrs.
Porter’s munificent gift of $550,000 to Skidompha in 1997
launched an ambitious capital campaign for the New
Skidompha. With the generous support of local residents,
businesses and foundations, over $3.2 million was raised in
the next few years. Doors to the new Library opened in May
2001.
The new Skidompha Public Library is a first class
facility, designed to meet Library needs well into the
future.
Entrance to our previous home on Main
Street
What
Does "Skidompha" Mean?
"Skidompha" is an acronym
created in the 1880s by the founding members of a local
literary club. They built this unusual name from letters in
their names:
The club incorporated as the Skidompha
Library Association in 1905 and offered its collection to
the towns of Damariscotta and Newcastle as the start of the
free public library.
Directions
We are located at the intersection of
Water Street and Main Street (Business Route 1) in downtown
Damariscotta, Maine. We also have an entrance and a small
parking lot on Elm Street. We recommend this entrance
especially if you are attending an event at the Porter
Meeting Hall. The Secondhand Book Shop is located a few
doors up the street (east) on Elm Street--look for a red barn with white
trim.
Click
here to view a map!
Library
Staff
Director
Pam Gormley
Adult Services
Denise Rankin
Anne Holmes
Joyce Barry
Youth Services
Jody Armstrong
Jenny Mayher
Development Director
Jeanne Davis
2006-2007
Board of Directors
Patrick Archbald
Debra Arter
Charles Ault
Frank Avantaggio
Bruce Bartlett (Secretary)
Jim Birkett (Treasurer)
Nancy Burleson (President)
JoAnn Jacobs
Emil Landau
Susan Lemos
Ann McFarland
Jane Najim
John Peacock
Barnaby Porter
Jean Vernet (Vice President)
Betty Welt
Steven Dixon
Jeannie Davis
Pam Gormley
Top