The Library will be closed from Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29 for the 2023 Memorial Day weekend.

We will reopen Tuesday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m.

Since 1971, Memorial Day has been a national day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States, observed on the last Monday of May. Thank you to all who have served.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. There you’ll find more resources about this date, including links to veterans cemetery databases, and information about flag displays.

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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.

Five sessions will be held online in June, July, and August, 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

All events will be held remotely, and registration is required for each one. Please register at goffstownlibrary.com/calendar to receive a link to the discussions.

All virtual events 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.

Only the June 8 event will be recorded and available for a limited time on YouTube. We will post the direct link here when available.

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.

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.

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.

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!”

Download a copy of the event flyer that you can print and share (PDF document).

Show your support, and your attitude of unity, when you share these events on social media, along with the hashtag
#OneGoffstown

“Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books for young readers, including the Front Desk series: Front Desk, Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player and Top Story, New From Here, and Finally Seen. Front Desk won the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and was chosen as a Best Book of the Year by multiple organizations, including NPR, the Washington Post, and the New York Public Library. Kelly’s family immigrated to the United States from China when she was a young girl, and she grew up in California, in circumstances very similar to those of Mia Tang. After attending college at the age of 13, she graduated UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project, a leading writing and debating program for children in Asia and the United States. Her writing has been published in South China Morning Post,The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.” Learn more about Kelly.

There's More to the Story

Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and e-books. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries.

Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, story times, movie nights, crafting classes, lectures, and more. The Goffstown Public Library offers a wide array of programs, classes, and resources, including museum passes, online learning, a telescope, and literacy kits.

And libraries play a critical role in the economic vitality of communities by providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for job seekers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.

If you haven’t checked out the Goffstown Public Library lately, you’re missing the full story. Stop by for a visit to celebrate National Library Week. Follow on Facebook and Instagram, and the hashtag #NationalLibraryWeek to join the online celebration.

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"Poetry surprises and deepens our sense of the ordinary. Poetry tells us that the world is full of wonder, revelation, consolation, and meaning."
Tracy K. Smith
U.S. Poet Laureate (2017-2019 )

National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives every April. – from poets.org

2023 Activities at the Goffstown Public Library

  • Stopping By Woods – Judy Krassowski
    The Road Not Taken: Artistic Interpretations of the Poetry of Robert Frost – display on the second floor through April.

Experience the magic of Robert Frost’s poetry brought to life through art. Throughout April, the Library will be hosting a traveling art exhibit of works inspired by the poetry of Robert Frost. This display of over 30 pieces includes drawings, paintings, and prints by local artists Corinne Dodge, Ingeborg V. Seaboyer, and Judy Krassowski. Visit the exhibit on the second floor of the Library and step into the world of one of the greatest American poets.

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The Library will be OPEN during Presidents’ Day on February 20, 2023.

Presidents’ Day, the third Monday in February, is a federal holiday honoring our first president, George Washington, whose birthday is February 22. We also traditionally honor President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12. (archives.gov)

For Teens

The Teen Room has a selection of non-fiction, biography, and fiction books on display each month. Tweens and teens are encouraged to celebrate Presidents’ Day the Library way!

  • Read up on presidential history with some historical non-fiction.
  • Conduct research about an inspiring president in the e-library.
  • Try a book with fictitious presidential characters.

For More Information

Learn More in the E-Library