Category: General
Reliable Information at Your Fingertips
If you’re looking for reliable news sources covering a wide array of topics and issues – NewsBank has what you’re looking for. When you visit the E-Library, you can search through full-text U.S. newspapers including The Union Leader and the NH Sunday News (since 1989) and The Concord Monitor (since 2002). There you’ll find current and archived coverage of issues, events, people, government, sports and more.
Information is at your fingertips with NewsBank and your library card. You can always find your link to current events at www.goffstownlibrary.com/elibrary.
Fall Into a Good Book

The leaves are falling and the books are calling! We’ve got all genres on display this month so you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect book for a cozy autumn afternoon. What are you waiting for? Leaf through a good book today!
Stop by the Library to check out the displays, or request one of these titles today:
- 6 Good Books to Get You in the Mood for Fall from realsimple.com
- 20 New Fall Books You Have to Read This Season from goodhousekeeping.com
- 14 Books To Add To Your Fall 2019 Reading List from huffpost.com
Goffstown Public Library Director Receives Award

On Friday, November 2, 2018, Goffstown Public Library Director Dianne Hathaway was presented the Ann Geisel Award of Merit by the NH Library Association in recognition for her outstanding contributions to the New Hampshire library community.
As a Librarian, and Director of the Goffstown Public Library, Dianne has provided leadership, served the community, encouraged innovation, and mentored professional librarians throughout her career.
Nominated by her peers, a past president of NH Library Association (NHLA), the State Librarian, a current officer of NHLA, and three past recipients of the Ann Geisel award, Dianne was presented the award at the NH Library Association’s fall business meeting. When announcing the award, Marilyn Borgendale, past-president of NHLA had this to say about Dianne: ” … she’s not only an excellent Librarian for her community, she has clearly gone above and beyond in her demonstrated contribution to the profession. She has been a mentor to many …” Marilyn continued, listing Dianne’s work throughout the New England library community, noting her involvement ranging from secretary, to committee chair, and executive board membership of organizations such as the New England Library Association (NELA), New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS), through to her position as past-president of the Greater Manchester Integrated Cooperative Library System (GMILCS), the largest automation cooperative in the state serving more than one quarter of New Hampshire’s population.
The Ann Geisel Award of Merit is given to an individual, group or organization that has made significant contributions to the New Hampshire library community. An overwhelming number of nomination letters naming Dianne were submitted this year, and a unanimous vote from the NHLA Executive Committee selected her for the award. Nomination letters included comments like:
Upon accepting the award, Dianne acknowledged the honor of being a recipient of the Ann Geisel Award of Merit, and pointed out how “It has been a joy to work with all of you as we strive to make our libraries the best they can be, serving our communities and their residents.” She tasked the current generation of librarians to mentor the next group coming up and reminded everyone that “We are NEVER too experienced to accept the advice and guidance of our colleagues and I believe this is an obligation to our profession. I have been mentored by so many remarkable librarians, some now retired, and I am still being mentored and guided by you in this room today.”
In attendance were Dianne’s daughters, and a couple of her grandchildren, who drove up to Plymouth, NH to attended the award presentation. Dianne was thrilled that they could attend and share the recognition with her and emphasized that “Being a mom has been a great motivator throughout my career, especially as a mom to young women.”
Dianne Hathaway has been the Director of the Goffstown Public Library for over 19 years where she leads a stellar staff, working to make a difference in the Goffstown community. Dianne holds a BS from Southern Connecticut State University and a graduate degree from Simmons College, and was the 2013 NH Mentor to the New England Library Leadership Symposium. She is particularly interested in public libraries as community partners and believes libraries are at the heart of service for the greater good through outreach to the community. Dianne has served on many Boards and is currently active with GMILCS, Inc. a consortium of 12 libraries in southern New Hampshire, the New England Library Association and the Goffstown Historical Society.
For additional information, please contact: Dianne Hathaway, 603-497-2102, dianneh@goffstownlibrary.com.
“The Ann Geisel Award of Merit recognizes librarians, libraries, and other individuals or organizations that have contributed to the New Hampshire Library Association (NHLA) or the New Hampshire library community. Past Ann Geisel Award of Merit recipients have improved all New Hampshire libraries through their efforts as library professionals, by providing library services or advocating for library issues within and beyond the state level.
This award is named in the memory of Ann Geisel (1947-1999). Ann personified “distinguished service to the New Hampshire library community.” In addition to serving for many years as the Director of the Peterborough Town Library, she served the New Hampshire library community through her service as a member of NHLA, the Nubanusit Library Coop, and the NH State Library Advisory Council, including a term as its Chair. She was active in regional and national library issues as a member of the Advisory Board of the Northeast Document Conservation Center, the American Library Association, and the New England Library Association.” – http://nhlibrarians.org/awards/geisel/
Becoming Age-Friendly
In June, Goffstown and Portsmouth became the first members in New Hampshire of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
“Well-designed, livable communities promote health and sustain economic growth, and they make for happier, healthier residents – of all ages.” – aarp.org
An age-friendly community means adopting features like:
- Safe, walkable streets
- Better housing and transportation options
- Access to key services
- Opportunities for residents to participate in community activities
Our membership provides access to AARP Network’s global resources, information, and provides opportunities for partnerships, mentoring, and peer-review by member cities.
The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities targets improvements in eight areas that influence the health and quality of life for all as we age:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings: Availability of safe and accessible recreational facilities.
- Transportation: Safe and affordable models of private and public transportation.
- Housing: Availability of home modification programs for aging in place as well as a range of age-friendly housing options.
- Social participation: Access to leisure and cultural activities, including opportunities for older residents to socialize and engage with their peers as well as with younger people.
- Respect and social inclusion: Programs that promote ethnic and cultural diversity as well as multigenerational interaction and dialogue.
- Civic participation and employment: Paid work and volunteer activities for older residents and opportunities to engage in the formulation of policies relevant to their lives.
- Communication and information: Access to communications technology and other resources so older residents can connect with their community, friends and family.
- Community support and health services: Access to home-based care services, health clinics and programs that promote wellness and active aging.
Communities participating in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities commit to improving their livability through an assessment of needs, development of an action plan, implementation of new projects and programs, and ongoing assessment – all with the involvement of older residents – in three phases over a five-year period, with continued cycles of assessment and improvement thereafter.
For more information:
- AARP Livable Communities
- AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
- Becoming Age-Friendly Facebook Page
- Listen to the conversation on NHPR.org The Exchange “N.H. Communities Seek to Become ‘Age Friendly’ For Both Seniors and Millennials” 2/6/17
Nationwide, 263 communities representing 70 million residents have received the Age-Friendly designation from AARP.