The Goffstown Public Library Community Conversations series is designed to help us understand issues affecting our community and provide a starting point to open up conversations. Community Conversations bring together resources, experts, and concerned community members to discuss complicated issues in a gracious, safe space.

grey speech bubble with library logo inside, text says Community Conversations Civics: Get Engaged. Get Involved.

The 2022 Community Conversations focus is Civics. We will investigate how citizens can and should work together to solve public problems. Our series of programs will include book discussions, trivia, events in partnership with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College and the Geisel Library at Saint Anselm College, along with empowering explorations and conversations about how we the people can and should steer the ship of our democracy.

For more information, please contact Dianne Hathaway, Goffstown Public Library Director, 497-2102, dianneh@goffstownlibrary.com

Schedule of Events

For virtual events, registration is required. All virtual events will be held via Microsoft Teams and once registered, all participants will receive an email link to join the discussions.

All pre-recorded video presentations will appear on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

FEBRUARY

ADULT

  • Tuesday, 2/1/22 at 6:30pm – Evening Book DiscussionThe Upswing by Robert Putnam, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; e-audiobook is available with your library card through hoopladigital.com and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.
  • Tuesday, 2/8/22 at 7pm – Town Deliberative Session at Mountain View Middle School followed by Select Board meeting and Budget Committee meeting. Contact the Goffstown Town Clerk’s office, 603-497-8990, extension 100, for details.
  • Tuesday, 2/15/22 at 7pm – How to Have Difficult Conversations with James McKim, managing partner of Organizational Ignition and president of the Manchester NAACP.
  • Monday, 2/21/22 at 10am – NHIOP: Commemorating the U.S. Presidency, in partnership with the NH Institute of Politics and Saint Anselm’s Geisel Library at Saint Anselm College.
  • Tuesday, 2/22/22 at 7pm – Candidate’s Night at Goffstown High School with Goffstown Lions Club. View the recording of this event at https://youtu.be/rIurjaLWRaY

TEEN

  • Saturday, 2/19/22 at 11am – Civics Trivia: Federal, State, and Municipal at the Goffstown Public Library. Registration required.

KIDS

  • Month of February – Share the Love – Stop by the Children’s Room to create a card, draw a picture or make a bookmark for someone in our community such as nursing home residents, community helpers or residents who receive home service from the Library.
  • Saturday, 2/19/22 at 9:30am – Story Time theme is “Voting” at the Library, for families with children up through grade 5.

MARCH

ADULT

  • Saturday, 3/5/22 at 11am – The Secret Sauce of Civic Life at Goffstown Historical Society with Dr. Quixada Moore-Vissing, a University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy Fellow with New Hampshire Listens. Registration required.
  • Tuesday, 3/8/22 at 7am – 2022 Town and School Election, at Bartlett Elementary School or Goffstown High School. Register to vote and find out more at the Goffstown Town Clerk’s office, 603-497-8990, extension 100.
  • Wednesday, 3/16/22 at 1:30pm – Afternoon Book Discussion The Upswing by Robert Putnam, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; e-audiobook is available with your library card through hoopladigital.com and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.
  • Monday, 3/28/22 at 6pm – The Upswing: Author Event at New Hampshire Institute of Politics with Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett. Registration is required with Saint Anselm College.

TEEN

  • Month of March – The Ultimate iCivics BINGO Bonanza – Pick up your BINGO board at the Goffstown Public Library.
  • Saturday, 3/19/22 at 11am – Teen Book DiscussionDress Coded by Carrie Firestone, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; online access is available with your library card through the Libby app and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.

KIDS

  • Month of March – Community Picture Book Read for children up through grade 5. Read one or more of the preselected civics-themed picture books and complete related activities to participate in a raffle drawing at the end of the month.
  • Saturday, 3/19/22 at 9:30am – Story Time theme is “Community Helpers” at the Library, for families with children up through grade 5.

Resources

Further Reading

More Goffstown Public Library Community Conversations

2022 Civics: Get Engaged. Get Involved.
2021 Can We Talk About the Environment?
2019-2020 Can We Talk About Race?