Come In And See Us!

Have you been in to see us lately? Spring is such a beautiful time in Maine, and it’s one of our favorite times inside the Book Shop too. The light floats in through the windows and the space feels extra cozy.

Thanks to such a generous community of readers and music and movie lovers, we are adding to our collection daily. Looking for something specific? Feel free to give us a call or stop in to search.

We’ve got a wonderful children’s and young adult selection.

And books to celebrate our love of the sea.

Art and Craft Books on Sale!

We are holding a special sale on all art books and craft books, from Thursday, April 8 through Saturday, April 17. Every book will be on sale at half price! We hope you can come in to check out the wide selection of books on sale.

The shop is open Monday through Saturday, 9 to 4. Donations are accepted at the back door on those days between 8 and 10 a.m., one bag or box per person.

Strict safety protocols are in place to help protect customers and volunteers. Anyone over age two must wear a mask; use the available hand sanitizer; and maintain physical distance according to CDC guidelines.

Super Sale on CDs!

Starting on Monday 3/22, we’re holding a special sale on music CDs. The sale will take place om Monday, March 22 through Saturday, April 3.  Every CD will be on sale at half price; there’s also a “buy 5 get 2 free” offer.

We have hundreds of CDs in categories including Classical, Opera, Rock, New Age, Show Tunes, Easy Listening, World, Pop, Folk, Alternative, Jazz, Country, Blues, and others. There’s also a section of CDs for children.

We re-opened on Monday, March 8, after being closed since November because of the pandemic. Strict safety protocols are in place to help protect customers and volunteers. Anyone over age two must wear a mask; use the available hand sanitizer; and maintain physical distance according to CDC guidelines.

We are open Monday through Saturday, 9 to 4. Donations are accepted at the back door on those days between 8 and 10 a.m., one bag or box per person.

The book shop, located on Back Street Landing, is a major fundraiser for Skidompha Public Library. All items are donated, all staff members are volunteers, and all proceeds support the library’s programs and collections.

For more information, give us a call at 563-7807. 

We're Re-opening!

Skidompha Book Shop to Re-Open March 8

We are excited to announce that will re-open on a full schedule on Monday, March 8. Come in and check out our display of new pop-up books!

We will be open Monday through Saturday 9 to 4. Donations will be accepted at the back door between 8 and 10 on those days, one bag or box per person.

According to Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the book shop, “Our volunteers are delighted to be able to welcome customers back into the shop. Our shelves are full, thanks to generous donors who have continued to support us. We’ll have strict safety protocols in place, so we hope people will feel comfortable in returning to the shop.”

Anyone in the shop over age 2 will be required to wear a mask, maintain physical distance, and use the readily available hand sanitizers. Because of the size of the shop, and in accordance with state guidelines, five customers may be in the shop at one time.

Books from the shop continue to be for sale at Main Street Grocery.

The Skidompha Book Shop provides major financial support for the collections and programs of Skidompha Public Library. All staff members are volunteers, and all items are donated, including books; puzzles; movies on DVDs and videotapes; and music on records and CDs.

For more information, give us a call at 563-7807.

We're Accepting Book Donations!

Though our doors remain closed for now because of the pandemic, we have volunteers here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8 to 10 a.m., to accept donated items, one box or bag per person per visit.

Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the shop, said, “Many generous donors have been saving books for us while we’ve been closed. Thanks to the donations we’re collecting now, our shelves will be well-stocked when we re-open. We’ll open again as soon as it’s safe for our customers and volunteers.”

She noted that books from the shop are still for sale at Main Street Grocery in Damariscotta. Books may also be purchased from shelves placed outside the library’s back door, weather permitting, during regular curbside pick-up hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 to 6, Saturday from 10 to 1. 

Gift certificates to the book shop are available at the library, to be used when the shop re-opens. To order a gift certificate, phone the library at 563-5513 or email info@skidompha.org, for curbside pick-up or to receive the certificates by mail.

All items at the book shop are donated, and all purchases from the shop, which is run by volunteers, support the programs and collections of Skidompha Public Library.

For more information about the library, please visit skidompha.org.

Have you read Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship?

“Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship”

Available for sale at Skidompha Library

The new book, “Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship: The Correspondence of E. B.

White and Edmund Ware Smith” is now for sale at Skidompha Public Library.

White and Smith, popular authors who had homes in Maine, maintained a lively

correspondence that began in 1956 and ended when Smith died in 1967. Smith and his

wife Mary lived in Damariscotta. When she died in 1980, the letters were donated to the

library and tucked away in a bank vault, to be re-discovered by library staff members in

2016. Besides the letters, the book includes an introduction by Martha White, E. B.

White’s granddaughter, and essays written by these two prolific writers.

Sales of the book benefit the library.

The book is for sale for $24.95 and can be shipped for a $5.00 shipping fee.

To buy the book, patrons may phone the library at 563-5513; email

info@skidompha.org; or stop by during curbside pickup hours and ask for one. Books

may be mailed from the library or picked up at the back door during pickup hours. The

library accepts credit cards, cash, and checks, as well as gift certificates from the

Skidompha Secondhand Book Shop.

Skidompha Book Shop Gift Certificates Now Available at the Library

Our Book Shop is closed for now because of the pandemic, but gift certificates for the shop are available through the library and can be used at the shop when it re-opens.

Sales of  books from the shop also continue, in a small way. When the weather permits, a cart of holiday books stands outside the library’s back door. Customers may choose a book and leave a donation in the designated box, or pay a library staff member when they pick up books they’ve requested from the library for curbside pickup.

Also, books from the shop are available, as always, at Main Street Grocery, Upper Main St., Damariscotta.

Customers may order gift certificates by phoning the library and arranging for curbside pickup.

All book shop purchases, including gift certificates, directly support the programs and collections of Skidompha Public Library.

Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the book shop, says, “Gift certificates are always popular during the holidays. This year, they help remind us all to look forward to the day when our volunteers will once again welcome customers and donors into the shop. We’ll re-open as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

To contact the library, phone 563-5513 or visit skidompha.org.

Book Shop to Close Temporarily

To help protect volunteers, customers, and donors from the spread of the Covid-19 in Maine, we are closing for now, effective at the end of the day on Wednesday, November 25. 

According to Matthew Graff, executive director of the library, “We make these changes with great sadness, and with deep appreciation for our library staff and patrons, and for our bookshop volunteers, customers, and donors. Everyone has been supportive and patient as we have tried to maintain our important service to the community. Above all, we’re concerned for the safety of everyone associated with the library, and their families and friends.”

“We’ll continue to monitor the situation,” he added. “We’ll re-open the book shop and return to our regular library services as soon as it is safe and sensible for us to do so.” 

We will miss seeing you in person for the time being, and hope that a safe reopening will soon be possible.

Special cookbook display for the holidays

To help customers prepare for holiday meals, we have created a special display of cookbooks on the island in the shop’s middle room.

Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the shop, said, “This year, the holidays will be different. We’ll all be trying to figure out how to celebrate and at the same time keep our families and friends safe from the spread of the coronavirus. Whether a gathering is large or small, in this time of uncertainty, good food, thoughtfully prepared, is more important than ever.”

“Cookbooks also make welcome gifts,” she added.

We are open Monday through Saturday, 9 to 4. Donations are accepted at the back door between 8 and 10 on those days. Strict safety protocols are in place to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Thinking about Gardens? Half Price Sale on Gardening Books!

Gardeners often cheer themselves during the winter months by planning next year’s
gardens. We can help!

All books in our extensive gardening collection are on sale at half price, from now through
Wednesday, November 11. Books are displayed on the island in the shop’s middle room, as well as in the regular gardening section.

According to Rosie Bensen, co-manager of the shop, “Many of our volunteers and many
of our donors are enthusiastic gardeners, so we have a huge collection of gardening books
that we’re eager to share with customers. We have more than we can display, so as we
sell books, we’ll replace them with others that are in storage.”