Library Events
The Search for Millie Scavenger Hunts!
9:00 AM - 9:00 PMExhibit: Land and Sea Creatures from Sea Change Farm
9:00 AM - 9:00 AMItalian Language Discussion Group
12:30 PM - 1:30 PMImagine That! Pop-Up Story Time
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
News & Announcements

Utility Bills High? Financial and Energy Saving Resources
August 11, 2022
With energy costs rising, here are some financial assistance programs and free energy s...
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Privacy Settings are Changing! September 1
September 1, 2022
Do you like to see your whole reading history? Have you set the privacy in your library...
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Local History: Painters of the Isles of Shoals, Tuesday August 16
July 29, 2022
Christopher Volpe takes us through a history of paintings of the Isles of Shoals from t...
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Sunday Summer Yoga through August 28
June 26, 2022
Our popular free weekly yoga class for adults, with Sage Clarke, begins again this mont...
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Check Out Past Library Events on our YouTube page!

Local History: Hidden History of the NH Seacoast
July 13, 2022The New Hampshire Seacoast has a wealth of overlooked history. Some remnants are hidden in plain sight and others are just plain hidden. Meet the minister and early religious founder who was involved in an armed confrontation in Dover with another preacher in 1640. Find out how a one-time high school assistant principal in Rochester became a world-famous business leader and ended up meeting President Grover Cleveland. Discover the story of “ghost” racetracks in Somersworth before they disappear, as well as the “pile of rocks” that stopped a multimillion-dollar building project in Windham. Author Terry Nelson reveals some of New England’s most fascinating history, from Durham and Madbury to North Hampton and Portsmouth. About the Presenter Terry Nelson is a retired Manchester Schools assistant principal. While his entire career has been in the education field, he has always harbored a love for history. Before marrying his wife, Barbara, Terry spent several summers working as a volunteer on archaeological digs in northern England. Later on, Terry and Barbara would take their two sons on family vacations visiting important sites in American history – from Vicksburg to Gettysburg and Fort Mackinaw to the Harry Truman Little White House on Key West. As a result, their sons are now taking their own children to visit historic places. After moving from Michigan to Dover, Terry worked for two years as a special education consultant for the NH Department of Education. This position afforded him the opportunity to visit and serve sixteen southern New Hampshire school districts. Along the way, he ran across many out of the way, little know, historic sites. In his book, Hidden History of the New Hampshire Seacoast, Terry explores and illuminates these little-known places and the stories behind them. Give the library feedback and enter to win a library book bag! This helps us make decisions about library programming and advertising. Fill out a brief Event Feedback Form here: https://forms.gle/uLaj2MrLtenEZmvH7 Want to learn about more upcoming events at the library? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/newsletter

Astrology 101
May 16, 2022This program provided a basic history and overview of western astrology, including the twelve zodiac signs, the four elements and three modalities, the ten traditional planets, and the five major aspects. Rest assured that even if all you know is your Sun sign, this program is still for you! The goal is to demystify astrology in order to empower you to use this powerful archetypal system for self-reflection and personal growth. Kate Sheridan, a.k.a. The Laundress, is a tarot reader and astrologer who believes that fortunes are created rather than told. Her style is down-to-earth and conversational, and she draws heavily on her previous life as a high school English teacher to ensure that her clients understand the logic behind the intuitive information she provides. You can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/themodernlaundress/ or online at https://www.thelaundresstarot.com/. Give the library feedback and enter to win a library book bag! This helps us make decisions about library programming and advertising. Fill out a brief Event Feedback Form here: https://forms.gle/uLaj2MrLtenEZmvH7 Want to learn about more upcoming events at the library? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/newsletter

Local History: Discovering the History of Your House
May 11, 2022Are you interested in learning about your house? Ever wonder who owned your home or how old it might be? This workshop will provide basic information to get you started in developing a history of your house. Local resident and museum curator John Mayer provides an introduction to resources you can use to explore the history of your house including deeds, maps, newspapers, and online sources maps, as well as resources available locally in Portsmouth, NH. About the Presenter John Mayer has over 30 years’ experience in the museum field and has worked in a variety of positions in history museums of all types. He has expertise in non-profit administration, exhibit development, curatorial routines, care of artifact collections, and preservation of historic structures. John lives in Portsmouth, NH with his wife Debora, in a two-hundred-year-old brick house. Give the library feedback and enter to win a library book bag! This helps us make decisions about library programming and advertising. Fill out a brief Event Feedback Form here: https://forms.gle/uLaj2MrLtenEZmvH7 Want to learn about more upcoming events at the library? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/newsletter

Local History: 1816 - The Year Without A Summer
April 13, 2022The eruption of Mount Tambora in the spring of 1815 was the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. Exploding with a force of 25,000 nuclear bombs, the eruption ejected enough material into the atmosphere to darken the skies for months and caused a global cooling event that has come to be known as The Year Without a Summer. We'll learn about the many impacts of the eruption here and abroad, from the immediate destruction of the Tambora culture in Sumbawa, Indonesia, to the vast crop failures, famines, pandemics, and freak weather events across the Northern Hemisphere, to the numerous societal influences on literature, science, art, and public health. Tambora continues to inform us today, as we grapple with a slower but no less disruptive assault on the global climate system. Tambora may be history, but its lessons shed light on how quickly the world can change forever. About the Presenter Will Broussard is the former Outreach Coordinator for the Mount Washington Observatory where he developed virtual and in-person educational programming around Mount Washington's unique cultural, scientific, and ecological history. Currently, he serves on the board of the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and is program coordinator for the Mid-Coast Audubon Society of Maine. When not pursuing his environmental conservation interests, he harvests and ships mushrooms for North Spore Mushroom Company in Portland, Maine. Give the library feedback and enter to win a library book bag! This helps us make decisions about library programming and advertising. Fill out a brief Event Feedback Form here: https://forms.gle/uLaj2MrLtenEZmvH7 Want to learn about more upcoming events at the library? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/newsletter

Local History: Exploring the Green Book
March 24, 2022Exploring the Green Book: A Lifeline for African Americans Traveling During Segregation There were many variations of the Green Books that were used as tools by African Americans, particularly those who desired to travel and enjoy themselves without concerns of experiencing racism. In this presentation, you will hear the stories of the Seacoast locals whose homes and businesses served as vacation spots for African American travelers wanting to find safe places and avoid the humiliation often experienced that could, without warning, prohibit Black people from entering the same spaces as whites. About the Presenter Nur Shoop leads the Green Book Tour and the Thirst for Freedom Tour which focuses on Portsmouth's slave economy through the civil rights movement. She is a Sankofa Scholar and lead tour guide with the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. She has been with BHTNH for 8 years. An experienced tour guide, Nur has developed key strategies for sharing and interpreting conflicting histories, and is certified as a guide by the National Association for Interpretation. Give the library feedback and enter to win a library book bag! This helps us make decisions about library programming and advertising. Fill out a brief Event Feedback Form here: https://forms.gle/uLaj2MrLtenEZmvH7 Want to learn about more upcoming events at the library? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/newsletter