Five weeks after vandals broke into the Mechanic Falls Public Library – strewing books, breaking shelves and stealing a computer and DVDs – the library plans to reopen Saturday.

And it will be better than ever.

Book lovers’ donations have more than paid for the damage to the tiny, masonry storefront. The usually cash-strapped institution now has a few thousand dollars in the bank, a reorganized collection and promises for more aid in the coming weeks.

“As a trustee, you don’t realize how many people the library touches,” said Nancy Petersons, who leads the library’s board.

She knows now.

Once word spread of the break-in, Petersons and Town Manager John Hawley were overwhelmed with offers of help.

“I was surprised so many people from outside the community took an interest,” Hawley said.

Lewiston and Auburn public libraries opened themselves to people from Mechanic Falls. The nearby American Legion Post 150 held a supper, raising almost $2,000. Children at the nearby Elm Street School made and sold valentines. They initially hoped to sell about 200 cards at 10 cents each. Instead, they sold 3,000.

One local contractor spent off hours examining and repairing the shelves. Someone donated a replacement computer and someone else donated his time to recreate the library’s computer-based circulation system. Some people hauled books. Others wrote checks.

In all, the library raised about $5,000.

Part of the response likely came from the nature of the vandalism, Petersons said. People were appalled by the violation of a place whose holdings are for everyone to share.

On Jan 23, after the library had closed for the day, vandals breached the back door and went inside. They upended book displays and dumped desk drawers. They pitched a desk chair onto the frozen river behind the library.

A few days later, police arrested two boys and a girl, ages 14, 15 and 17. They are scheduled to appear in court sometime in March.

“I’m over the anger,” Petersons said. “It’s time to move on.”

Reopening as soon as possible seemed the best thank-you the library could give, she said.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the doors will open. The board will serve munchies and hand out balloons to children.

The thank-yous will go on. On March 17, the library plans to sponsor a magic show. Within a couple of weeks, it will again close.

The local Masonic lodge plans to spend thousands of dollars on the rear room, aimed at teens. They will rip down the walls, re-insulate and hang new Sheetrock.

Meanwhile, a group of Girl Scout Brownies plans to lend some work to the children’s room, which was largely untouched by the vandals.

The library board is thankful for it all, said Petersons.

“We’ve always had to scrape to get by,” Petersons said. “We’ve never had this kind of help before.”