4.0New Hampshire Historical Society(56 reviews) - Little more than just a gorgeous building Saturday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Libraries • History Museums
Founded in 1823 the New Hampshire Historical Society is the state's premier organization preserving and sharing Granite State history. Its museum and library offer the most extensive collection of resources and materials related to New Hampshire history that can be found anywhere. The Society's headquarters building at 30 Park Street in Concord is considered one of the finest examples of public architecture in New Hampshire and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.See more..
In the basement, the Orozco room contains a commissioned mural by Jose Orozco. There are tours offered or you can do a self guided tour with a booklet available.See more..
This library was established in 1817 and has a noteworthy collection of rare and old publications.See more..
5.0Howe Public Library(7 reviews) - Small Library that offers a lot! Spent 1-2 hours Libraries
This is a great small library. They have more than books. There are study rooms that can fit 1-4 people you can sign up for free , a small snack/cafe area, and cozy fire place room. When our kids were younger there were story times and play times that they met other preK kids. They have great events - we heard a talk on Birding in Cuba last year. We attended a kids Halloween costume swap and got some great costumes another year. They have days in which they offer 'technical help' for computers/ iPads etc. In addtion to checking out books, CDs, and movies, they have other things like museum passes, VCR digital converting kit, birding kit, a ukulele, and electricity usage kit (and more) that you can check out. They also have digital books you can sign out. It is a small Library that offers a lot.See more..
Not only is this the first public library in the USA supported by taxation but it is one of the best. All of the librarians go out of their way to suggest, locate and reserve books and are always friendly with conversation on even the hottest days!See more..
4.0Madbury Public Library(1 review) - SMALL TOWN LIBRARY WITH A LOT TO OFFER Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Libraries
In Madbury, I stopped by the library for some research. I found that it is a small library with a lot to offer. I went to the Non-Fiction section first for my research. I used one of four occasional chairs with ottomans near the Non-Fiction section while I looked at two books from the History subsection. One book from the History section that caught my eye was “1493: Discovering the New World Columbus Created” by Charles O. Mann, who also wrote “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.” Reading some it, I found that Mann describes the global changes created by the interactions of the societies of Europe and the Americas. Looking around, I also saw seating areas for just reading in several areas of the library. I found that the Children’s Room had plenty of books and two activity tables with chairs. The Juvenile Fiction section was nearby. Browsing the shelves, I saw some longtime favorite series – both the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I also found a good-sized Young Adult section. There was another seating area near the front desk and the Young Adult section. And, if all this weren’t enough to pique one’s interest, the library also has the Story Trail which is out behind Town Hall next door. The story starts at the rainbow sign located about 150 feet up the trail. At the time of my visit, the story was “The Bear Ate Your Sandwich.” The library building itself is interesting. Its modern design is very different from most libraries. The architects who designed it received an award. I rate the Madbury Public Library at 4.25 and can recommend a visit. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
5.0New Ipswich Library(1 review) - An adventure in to Literacy Libraries This library has such a welcoming and entertaining atmosphere for all my family. It’s very impressive.See more..
After visiting the waterfall created by the dam on the Salmon Falls River where Front Street meets Main Street in South Berwick, I drove around to the mill complex to the Rollinsford Public Library. It was in the Salmon Falls Lower Mill. I took the elevator to the Lower Level. Downstairs, the layout was a bit confusing. There were some bookcases in the hallway straight ahead out of the elevator. I thought the entrance was beyond that. It was wasn’t; it was a dead end. There was a plain metal door back near the bookcases. A library sign was beside the door. I tried the door. It was unlocked. I opened it. It proved to be the entrance to the library. Inside, I was greeted by the librarian on duty who invited me to browse the four rooms. First was the Children’s Room. Everything for children was in there – books, DVD’s, and music CD’s. Across from the Children’s Room was an interesting seating area. There were two round couches. Next was the Reference Room which also had History books. I came upon a book I’d seen in other libraries. It was Charles Mann’s “1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created” that explains the impacts on Europe and The Americas of Columbus’s exploration. He'd also written "1491" about The Americas before Columbus's arrival. The librarian said "1491" was very popular and people had to join a waiting list for it. Next was the Community Meeting Room which had a large table and chairs as well as a piano. The main room held Young Adult, Fiction, and other sections. Although not physically large, the library had adequate resources with access to New Hampshire State Library as well as Hoopla and Overdrive. Additionally, there was a quiet nook with several public computers. Despite its size, I rate the Rollinsford Public Library at 4.0. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0Newmarket Public Library(1 review) - HISTORIC LIBRARY WITH MIXED-STYLES ARCHITECTURE Closed now - 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Libraries
4.0Lee Public Library(1 review) - LARGE COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Libraries
Heading for Misty Meadows Herbal Center, I stopped by the Lee Public Library to do historical research about Lee. The view of the library from the street and parking lot was deceiving. It was actually much larger than it appeared to be because of a room on the side toward the back as well as another room in the back weren’t visible from the street or the parking lot. There was good-sized Children’s section was near the entrance. It had a great collection of books. The Young Adult section was also a good size. The Adult Non-Fiction, Fiction, and History were in the back room. I found a wide selection in each genre. The third side room near the front was the Reference Room. There, I found a large New Hampshire History section. It was in a two-sided shelving unit. Not only was it larger than I expected, but is was also larger than Reference sections in several larger libraries in the area. But, Lee is a town that’s big on history, so it didn’t surprise me all that much. One of the subjects I wanted to research was the approximate founding year of the cemetery across the street. A librarian pulled out a loose-leaf notebook that had information on the cemeteries, but that one was not in there because it was newer than the other two. So, it was not as historic as I thought. The library staff was very helpful. There were a number of library-related items for sale that included sports caps and book bag totes. The library also sold history booklets from the Lee Historical Society's museum next door. On the way out, I took one of the craft packets. It was to make a stand-up cardboard apple. I rate my experience at the Lee Public Library at 4.50 and can recommend a visit. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0Epsom Public Library(1 review) - TOWN LIBRARY WITH A LOT OF ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Saturday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Libraries
In 2007, the Epsom Public Library moved to its much-larger present location. It now holds about 20,000 books and other items. For a town of under 5,000, Epsom has a good-sized library. This library offers a number of activities, such as the weekly Lego Club for all ages, plus family and children’s movies and story time for youngsters. It also hosts lectures and special events from time to time. I’ve attended some in the past. The programs were excellent. On this visit, I signed up for an upcoming Halloween event presented by the Portsmouth Paranormal Society. I stopped by The Children’s Room to see what was there. It had a wide selection of books and areas for activity and reading. I also saw a little set-up for a puppet theater. A small reading room in the back had club chair seating and held all the magazines. I found good-sized sections on Non-Fiction/History and Reference. The library had a coffee station. That was the second one I’d seen in a library in Southeastern New Hampshire. The staff was friendly and very helpful. I rate the Epsom Public Library at 4.25 and can recommend a visit. The reason for the delay in submitting this review was due to a months-long loss of my ability to post photos with my reviews. If you found this review useful, please click HELPFUL.See more..
4.0Somersworth Public Library(1 review) - MID-SIZED LIBRARY WITH GOOD RESEARCH MATERIAL Closed now - 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Libraries
4.0Seabrook Library(1 review) - LIBRARY WITH ABOUT 50% FICTION & 50% NON FICTION Saturday: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Libraries
After shopping at Seacoast Shopping Center, I stopped by the nearby at Seabrook Library. In the entryway, there was a cart with books the library was giving away. I looked them over. I got: 1. The Chaucer Papers – a mystery 2. Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation – novel about a boy at the time of the American Revolution who was raised by a group of Rationale Philosophers - It looked interesting. Inside, the Children’s Room was straight ahead. I looked at that area first. A small boy was playing in the activity area. I talked with his mother. Then, I looked around. I liked the low child-height bookcases. The library had a lot of children’s movies. Then, I found that the main part of the library was divided about 50/50 between Fiction and Non-Fiction. I checked for “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus” by Charles G. Mann. The library had it. That showed me that the library kept up with new releases in History/Non-Fiction category. The library also had a great selection of books on the American Revolution and the American Civil War. There was also a good-sized Teen section with seating. And, several public computers were set up in a quiet area away from the high-traffic areas. I rate the Seabrook Library at 4.25 and can recommend a visit. The reason for the delay in submitting this review was due to a months-long loss of my ability to post photos with my reviews. If you found this review useful, please click HELPFUL.See more..
4.0Barrington Public Library(1 review) - NICE SMALL TOWN LIBRARY WITH SOME HISTORICAL RECORDS Saturday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Libraries
At the Barrington Public Library for some research, I got some great help from Autumn, one of librarians. She showed me some reference material for town history. “A History of Barrington, N.H.” by Morton H. Wiggin was the primary reference book on the town. There was also a book on the graveyards of Barrington that also had a map in the back. The library also had some town records in notebooks. There was a good-sized Children’s Dept. There was also a decent Travel section. Other departments, such as Fiction and Non-Fiction, had adequate amounts of selections. Summer renters/campers can get a library card for $20.00 for June - August. All public computer access is free to the public. There is a one-hour time limit on public PC's. Time may be extended if no other patrons are waiting to use a computer terminal. Time for wireless access is unlimited. Printing service is available for 10 cents per page. The library offers many programs for children, teens, and adults. If space permits, non-residents are allowed to sign up for some of them. There was a pretty wreath that someone had made out of pages from a book. Outside, there was a small garden area with statuary and a place to sit and read. There was also a table near the entrance. For a small town library, Barrington Public Library was very good. I rate Barrington Public Library at 4.0. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0Dover Public Library(1 review) - ONE OF THOUSANDS OF CARNEGIE LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES Closed now - 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM Libraries
4.0Wolfeboro Public Library(1 review) - MID-SIZED LBRARY WITH NUMEROUS RESOURCES Saturday: 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM Libraries
On a daytrip to Wolfeboro, I stopped by the Wolfeboro Public Library for some research. To get to the Non-Fiction/Reference section, I passed through a large Fiction section with several rows of stacks. Nearby, I saw a modest-sized Young Adult section. During my visit, a teenage boy was reading a book there. I found the Non-Fiction/Reference section to be good-sized. It had a lot of travel books and history books. Of particular interest to me was “History of the United States Naval Operations in World War II” which was a 14-volume set with a separate Index volume. I also found a number of books about New England in general as well as its history. From a librarian, I learned that library can provide access to numerous databases for historical and genealogical research. On the opposite side of the library, I found that the Children’s and Juvenile area was considerably larger. I thought that there were enough seating areas scattered about the library for people to be able to maintain social distancing while still enjoying a leisurely library visit. Overall, I thought the Wolfeboro Public Library had enough to offer travelers for a visit for research or reading on a rainy day during vacation. The library is all on one floor. And, there’s a break in the sidewalk to provide wheelchair access to the library. I rate Wolfeboro Public Library at 4.75 and can recommend a visit. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
