Category: Community
A New Look for the Catalog
Our consortium, GMILCS, Inc. (Greater Manchester Integrated Library Cooperative System) has contracted with Bywater Solutions to purchase Aspen Discovery, giving a new look and functionality to our online catalog.
www.goffstownlibrary.com/search will still take you directly to the catalog – take a look around and enjoy the new experience.
You’ll be pleased with the fresh new design and
- improved user experience with great visuals and familiar features,
- ability by staff to change and customize the catalog for the Goffstown community,
- ease in finding any material format that you are looking for, and
- there is a built-in translation feature that includes French and Spanish.
Managing Your Account is Easier than Ever!
- Menus are easy to navigate – your barcode and pin/password haven’t changed.
- Your saved lists are available to import. Simply log into your account, select “Your Lists” and select the “Import from Old Catalog” tab. Please carefully read any messages that appear on your screen so you can search for and save or make note of any titles that may no longer be available.
Keep in Mind
- The old catalog will only be available for a few more weeks, available at https://findit.gmilcs.org/polaris/default.aspx?ctx=11.1033.0.0.2
- Update your bookmarks – if you have a https://findit.gmilcs.org… bookmark, you’ll need to change it to https://discover.goffstownlibrary.com, or www.goffstownlibrary.com/search.
- If you have Saved Searches in the old catalog, they have to be manually recreated at the new site. Use the next few weeks to look over the old searches and recreate those you wish to retain.
Questions? Email dianneh@goffstownlibrary.com

One Goffstown
In March, Goffstown neighborhoods received neo-Nazi propaganda in their driveways. Because of that incident, we have developed “One Goffstown”, a series of discussions for teens and adults with the goal of encouraging communication and becoming a more welcoming, accepting community for everyone.
Sessions will be held from June through September, all on Thursday evenings and open to the public. Please register at goffstownlibrary.com/calendar to receive a link to the discussions.

Show your support, and your attitude of unity, when you share these events on social media, along with the hashtag
#OneGoffstown
Registration is required for each event, individually. Please sign up at goffstownlibrary.com/calendar.
All sessions will be held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
June
June 8 – What are Hate Crimes and Hate Speech?
Goffstown Police Chief Eric Sereno will discuss hate crimes that have occurred in Goffstown and update us about the neo-Nazi propaganda left in local driveways. Seth Aframe from the US Attorney’s Office and Sean Locke from the NH Attorney General’s Office will educate us about hate crimes and hate speech and will explain the different federal and state hate crime violations. Timothy DeMann will share how the FBI investigates hate crimes, including the receipt of information, and the coordination with other agencies. This event recording was available for a limited time on the library’s YouTube channel.
June 29 – What is Implicit Bias?
James McKim from Organizational Ignition and the Manchester Branch of the NAACP will help us understand implicit bias and how it affects our behavior and how we treat others.
July
July 13 – What is Bullying?
Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professor will talk about bullying, including online bullying, the psychology behind this behavior, and what happens when we are bullied.
- What is Bullying event slideshow (PDF document).
July 20 – How to be an Ally
James McKim from Organizational Ignition and the Manchester Branch of the NAACP returns to discuss how we can all be allies to those enduring bullying, abuse, and public humiliation. This event recording was available for a limited time on the library’s YouTube channel.
- Allyship (PDF document)
- GPL What is Bias (PDF document)
August
August 10 – How to Have Difficult Conversations
Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professor will join us to help us navigate difficult conversations with people in our community who have different beliefs, lifestyles, or political parties. We CAN speak civilly with each other, and Dr. Kate will teach us how.
- Managing Difficult Conversations (PDF document)
Sunday, August 13 – The Human Library – 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Goffstown Public Library
This in-person, international event is the fifth Human Library we have hosted since 2014. At this event, neighbors from the Goffstown community will be open books, attendees will be “readers”, and open, civil discussions will occur to encourage acceptance and better understanding of difference.
“In the best sense of the word, The Human Library is a library of people and their experiences with prejudice. However, instead of paperback books, actual people are on loan for conversations. The concept is about acknowledging and challenging the prejudice that we all carry towards one another. For that reason, The Human Library creates a safe space for conversation where topics subject to taboo, marginalization, or stigmatization can be openly addressed without condemnation. The people acting as Books have directly or indirectly been exposed to prejudice, bias, or discrimination based on aspects of their person, heritage, or life experiences. At The Human Library, we invite in all questions and our Books engage in sharing their personal experiences with the Readers. We hope you will join us to learn about different perspectives and experiences!”
2023 Human Library PRESS RELEASE (PDF document)
September
September 14 – Cyberbullying
Do you want to understand cyberbullying and the effects it has on our mental health? Dr. Kate Murphy, psychologist, and Plymouth State University professor, returns to help us understand cyberbullying with some suggestions about how to prevent it and the harmful effects it has on all of us. Watch the event recording on the library’s YouTube channel.
- Cyberbulling event slides (PDF document).
Download a copy of the event flyer that you can print and share (PDF document)
NEW 8/2/2023: Additional flyer for August – September (PDF document)
Show your support, and your attitude of unity, when you share these events on social media, along with the hashtag
#OneGoffstown
Resources
From March to May, 2023, the World Affairs Council of NH hosted a three-part series on confronting Genocide and Anti-Semitism. This three-part series looked at how we can identify, prevent, and recover from rising hate and what communities can do in the face of what seems to be a huge problem around the world. The event recordings are available to watch:
- Identifying the Warning Signs – https://wacnh.org/page-1846361
- U.S. Prevention Efforts around the World – https://wacnh.org/US-Prevention-Efforts
- Recovering in the Aftermath – https://wacnh.org/Recovering-in-the-Aftermath
Take a Hike
You don’t have to go far if you’re looking for a nice mountain hike nearby. In Goffstown, the Uncanoonuc Mountains Hiking Trails provide hikers with beautiful scenic views of Goffstown and the Merrimack Valley. David Pierce, retired cartographer, has provided the Conservation Commission with a map highlighting the various paths hikers can take.
- as a PDF download,
- posted near the beach at Uncanoonuc Lake, and at the Village bulletin board on Mountain Road,
- and available at the Library.
Maps and Trails Information: https://goffstownrailtrail.org/rail-trail-maps
Updated maps can also be found at https://www.goffstown.com/community/maps/78-trails
More Nearby Trails
Black Brook & Blackbriar Woods Preserves – Piscataquog Land Conservancy (plcnh.org)
Florence M. Tarr Wildlife Sanctuary – Piscataquog Land Conservancy (plcnh.org)
Guides
Memoirs/Stories
For More Information
Goffstown Seed Library
Nourishing our community, one seed at a time...
“Borrow” seeds to start your gardens! Located on the third floor, the Seed Library is now available to “check out”.
The steps are simple:
- Choose what seed varieties you want.
- Fill out the sign-out sheet with what you chose.
- There are seed packets with planting instructions on the table, you can make note of the planting information on the packets you are taking home.
- We’re also collecting harvested seeds at the end of the summer, so please note whether you would like to participate in that when you’re filling out the sign-out sheet. When you bring those in, please label each envelope with the seed and variety information.

When using the Seed Library, take what you need but remember to leave enough for others. This project is based on the honor system, so a staff member is not needed to “check out” seeds.
Seed will be swapped out as the seasons change, so be sure to check back every so often for new seed varieties.
Happy gardening and be sure to use #goffstownlibrary on social media to share your Seed Library bounty!
The Goffstown Seed Library is made possible by the Friends of the Goffstown Public Library and the New Hampshire Free Seed Project.
Read All About Gardening!
KIDS
ADULTS
Share the Bounty in 2023
Grow a Row – through August 31
Do you have a green thumb? Enjoy your garden while helping your community this summer by participating in Grow a Row! The Goffstown Network Food Pantry’s Grow a Row program encourages local gardeners to add an extra row (or more) of their favorite vegetables to their garden, and then donate those extra vegetables. Your vegetable surplus will be used to stock the Goffstown Network Food Pantry with healthy and fresh food for our neighbors in need.
After harvest, drop off your produce at two locations during open hours:
- Goffstown Network Food Pantry, St. Matthew’s, 7 North Mast Street, (603) 497-3433
- Goffstown Public Library, 2 High Street, (603) 497-2102
Harvest Swap – Saturday, August 19 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Share and swap your bounty with the community! Too many tomatoes? Want to swap your squash? Come by and see what others have grown this summer and exchange some of your garden produce. Register for this event and let us know you’re coming at www.goffstownlibrary.com/calendar.
For Further Reading
Gardening & Growing
- Free Online Food Growing Course – Thrive™ (thriveforgood.org)
- Sustainable Gardening – American Horticultural Society (ahsgardening.org)
- Yard & Garden | Extension (unh.edu)
- In the Home & Garden | UNH Today
Seed Saving
- Seed Saving Resources (communityseednetwork.org)
- How to Save Seeds – Seed Savers Exchange
- How do I save seeds for next year’s garden? | Extension (unh.edu)
In the E-Library
- Universal Class offers courses like Introduction to Gardening, Vegetable Gardening, Tropical Gardening, and more.
- Libby by OverDrive has a variety of Gardening magazines available to check out and read online or on a mobile device.
