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Library Hours
Monday-Thursday 10-6
Saturday 10-1 CLOSED FOR LUNCH Monday-Thursday 11:45-12:30 |
It is the mission of the Northwood Libraries to serve as a community center connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to impartial resources, programs, services, and technology that encourage literacy, develop a lifelong quest for learning, and expand life experiences and knowledge.
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Visit Us
8 Mountain Ave,
Northwood, NH, 03261 Contact Us
(603)942-5472
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Library Events and News
Birdhouse Building Returns!
It’s back by popular demand! If you missed our first session, now's your chance to register to build your own birdhouse with local woodworker Mr. Bob. Birdhouse building will take place at the Chesley Memorial Library on Saturday, July 19, at 9:00 a.m. This program is best suited for school-age children, but younger children may register if they have someone to help them. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Advance registration is required since limited spots are available. Call the library at 603-942-5472 or email chesleylib.com by July 17 to sign up.
The Chesley Memorial Library is able to offer this program through a recurring grant from the Robert C. Grano Charitable Fund to commemorate the generosity of Joseph Grano in donating the funds to build the Theodora Kalem Grano Memorial Wing in 1991. “Joseph Grano Children’s Initiative” programs promote exploration of the natural world, music, art, diverse cultures, adventure travel, and craftsmanship.
The Chesley Memorial Library is able to offer this program through a recurring grant from the Robert C. Grano Charitable Fund to commemorate the generosity of Joseph Grano in donating the funds to build the Theodora Kalem Grano Memorial Wing in 1991. “Joseph Grano Children’s Initiative” programs promote exploration of the natural world, music, art, diverse cultures, adventure travel, and craftsmanship.
Game On with our Summer Reading Program!
Level up at your library with Chesley Memorial! Our 2025 Summer Reading Program is all about games, from puzzles and card games, to board games and tabletop roleplaying games! Sign up starting on June 23 to track your summer reading progress, enter into our weekly raffles to win 50 dollar gift cards to local attractions (made possible by the Friends of the Library), and participate in our weekly activities at the library!
Stay tuned for the following programs on Tuesdays from 3-5 PM:
Guessing Games on July 8
Puzzle Races on July 15
Crafternoon on July 22
Life-sized Candyland on July 29
Library Escape Room on August 5
All of these events will lead up to our grand finale of the summer: Our Renaissance Faire on August 16! In partnership with Oscar Foss Memorial Library and Epsom Public Library, the Second Annual Shirefest will take place from 10AM to 4PM at the T.L. Storer Campground in Barnstead. We cordially invite you to dress up as any historical or high fantasy character and revel with live music, play medieval-inspired games, watch educational demonstrations, and experience a day in Middle Earth!
Stop in the library beginning Monday, June 23 to sign up! Questions about our Summer Reading Program? Call (603) 942-5472 or email [email protected]. We hope all of our readers will join us this summer to level up their reading game at Chesley Memorial Library!
Stay tuned for the following programs on Tuesdays from 3-5 PM:
Guessing Games on July 8
Puzzle Races on July 15
Crafternoon on July 22
Life-sized Candyland on July 29
Library Escape Room on August 5
All of these events will lead up to our grand finale of the summer: Our Renaissance Faire on August 16! In partnership with Oscar Foss Memorial Library and Epsom Public Library, the Second Annual Shirefest will take place from 10AM to 4PM at the T.L. Storer Campground in Barnstead. We cordially invite you to dress up as any historical or high fantasy character and revel with live music, play medieval-inspired games, watch educational demonstrations, and experience a day in Middle Earth!
Stop in the library beginning Monday, June 23 to sign up! Questions about our Summer Reading Program? Call (603) 942-5472 or email [email protected]. We hope all of our readers will join us this summer to level up their reading game at Chesley Memorial Library!
Northwood Libraries Update 6/4/25
The Chesley Memorial Library Trustees
share the following message:
Northwood Libraries services are endangered by state and federal legislation that could reduce or entirely eliminate funding our town depends. As Northwood citizens, the Trustees of the Northwood Libraries want you to know about these threats. We are responsible for advocating
for the health of our libraries, which includes informing you of the serious challenges ahead.
In addition to funds allocated in the town budget, our libraries receive vital support from the NH State Library based on the grants it receives from a little-known, but critical, federal agency, the Institute for Museums and Libraries (IMLS).
In 1996, an act of Congress established the IMLS as an agency charged with “enhancing and expanding” a broad range of services to strengthen libraries. Congress recognized libraries as “anchor institutions,” essential to our communities and our nation. Since then, the IMLS has distributed yearly grants to the states that are partially matched by state funds, creating a financial foundation for Northwood’s libraries and those throughout the country.
The NH State Library received a grant of $1.5million in 2024. The funds are used in large part to fund core services we value in Northwood: the state-wide lending library, electronic books, the Libby app, and Talking Books for the visually impaired, to name a few. All of them face drastic reduction or complete elimination if the current proposals for the NH state budget and the US federal budget pass.
On April 10, 2025, the NH House passed a budget cutting $600,000 of state funding distributed over two years to the department administering the NH State Library. If this cut stays in the budget, it will undermine the state support our libraries need.
At the same time, our libraries are at risk for losing all federal support provided through the IMLS. President Trump issued an executive order on 3/11/25, calling for an immediate reduction of funding for the IMLS as completely as possible. After 85% of its staff was placed on administrative leave, the IMLS stopped functioning for all practical purposes.
On May 22, 2025, the US House indicated it is prepared to eliminate the IMLS entirely when it refused to include it in the federal budget for 2026. The IMLS will disappear in 2026 if the US Senate also excludes the IMLS from its budget, and Northwood’s libraries won’t be the same.
The Chesley Memorial Library Trustees
share the following message:
Northwood Libraries services are endangered by state and federal legislation that could reduce or entirely eliminate funding our town depends. As Northwood citizens, the Trustees of the Northwood Libraries want you to know about these threats. We are responsible for advocating
for the health of our libraries, which includes informing you of the serious challenges ahead.
In addition to funds allocated in the town budget, our libraries receive vital support from the NH State Library based on the grants it receives from a little-known, but critical, federal agency, the Institute for Museums and Libraries (IMLS).
In 1996, an act of Congress established the IMLS as an agency charged with “enhancing and expanding” a broad range of services to strengthen libraries. Congress recognized libraries as “anchor institutions,” essential to our communities and our nation. Since then, the IMLS has distributed yearly grants to the states that are partially matched by state funds, creating a financial foundation for Northwood’s libraries and those throughout the country.
The NH State Library received a grant of $1.5million in 2024. The funds are used in large part to fund core services we value in Northwood: the state-wide lending library, electronic books, the Libby app, and Talking Books for the visually impaired, to name a few. All of them face drastic reduction or complete elimination if the current proposals for the NH state budget and the US federal budget pass.
On April 10, 2025, the NH House passed a budget cutting $600,000 of state funding distributed over two years to the department administering the NH State Library. If this cut stays in the budget, it will undermine the state support our libraries need.
At the same time, our libraries are at risk for losing all federal support provided through the IMLS. President Trump issued an executive order on 3/11/25, calling for an immediate reduction of funding for the IMLS as completely as possible. After 85% of its staff was placed on administrative leave, the IMLS stopped functioning for all practical purposes.
On May 22, 2025, the US House indicated it is prepared to eliminate the IMLS entirely when it refused to include it in the federal budget for 2026. The IMLS will disappear in 2026 if the US Senate also excludes the IMLS from its budget, and Northwood’s libraries won’t be the same.
Estate Planning Seminar
Attorney Kathryn Swain Williams from K.S.W. Law in Epping will present an Estate Planning Seminar at the Chesley Memorial Library on Monday, July 28, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Topics to be discussed will include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care proxies. The program will be held during the library’s Senior Café but anyone interested in estate planning is welcome to attend.
Summer is here and now is the time to plan a trip to one of the local museums with passes sponsored by the Friends of the Northwood Libraries. The Chesley Memorial Library has passes to Bedrock Gardens, Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Seacoast Science Center, SEE Science Center, and Squam Lake this year. Call the library at (603) 942-5472 for more information about planning your visit!
Chesley Memorial Libraries Informational Bulletin #2
The Impact of the President’s decision to defund the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 on March 14, 2025, targeting the IMLS and six other federal agencies, leading to significant disruptions in library funding and operations across the United States.
The President’s executive order was implemented quickly. The IMLS reportedly has 77 employees. As of 3/31/25, approximately 80% of them were placed on administrative leave with pay for 90 days, no access to their workplace, and indications that they would subsequently be laid off. Processing of current grants has halted, new grants are not being accepted, and support for local public and school libraries has stopped.
IMLS has effectively been closed down despite congressional appropriation of IMLS funding through September 2025. On April 1, 2025, IMLS Acting Director Sonderling issued a notice of grant termination authorizing the termination of all federal grants administered by the IMLS. At that time, IMLS had issued grants totaling $266,700,000. New Hampshire receives $1.5 million from IMLS funding.
Continued payments to the recipients are to be stopped. The recipients include the National Leadership Grants, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants, and the Grants to States program, the largest source of federal funding for library services in the US. This notice, reportedly, has not yet gone into effect in all states. It’s very existence, however, has had a chilling effect on the actions of any state who has not yet received it. They are holding off on
further distribution of any grant's funding.
There is widespread concern about the legality of these cuts because they bypass the constitutional authority of Congress. Attorney generals from 21 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration on April 4, 2025, seeking to halt the elimination of IMLS. The suit argues in part that Executive Order 14238 violates the Constitution by preventing agencies from carrying out programs required by Congress. No court ruling has been issued to date.
President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 on March 14, 2025, targeting the IMLS and six other federal agencies, leading to significant disruptions in library funding and operations across the United States.
The President’s executive order was implemented quickly. The IMLS reportedly has 77 employees. As of 3/31/25, approximately 80% of them were placed on administrative leave with pay for 90 days, no access to their workplace, and indications that they would subsequently be laid off. Processing of current grants has halted, new grants are not being accepted, and support for local public and school libraries has stopped.
IMLS has effectively been closed down despite congressional appropriation of IMLS funding through September 2025. On April 1, 2025, IMLS Acting Director Sonderling issued a notice of grant termination authorizing the termination of all federal grants administered by the IMLS. At that time, IMLS had issued grants totaling $266,700,000. New Hampshire receives $1.5 million from IMLS funding.
Continued payments to the recipients are to be stopped. The recipients include the National Leadership Grants, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants, and the Grants to States program, the largest source of federal funding for library services in the US. This notice, reportedly, has not yet gone into effect in all states. It’s very existence, however, has had a chilling effect on the actions of any state who has not yet received it. They are holding off on
further distribution of any grant's funding.
There is widespread concern about the legality of these cuts because they bypass the constitutional authority of Congress. Attorney generals from 21 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration on April 4, 2025, seeking to halt the elimination of IMLS. The suit argues in part that Executive Order 14238 violates the Constitution by preventing agencies from carrying out programs required by Congress. No court ruling has been issued to date.
Our Flag Retirement Box
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Do you have a flag ready for retirement? According to the United States Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” The Chesley Memorial Library has a flag retirement box for your convenience so bring your flags in anytime.
Left: Veteran Shannan Brown from Joseph J. Jeffrey VFW Post 7217 picks up the flags so they can be properly retired. |
Tips and quick reference
ONLINE RESERVE AND RENEW Reserve and/or renew with three easy steps: 1. Select "Library Catalog" from our Menu 2. Enter your Library Card Number 3. Your Password is the LAST 4 digits of your Primary Phone Number |
NO BOOK DONATIONS Thank you for reaching out to donate books, but we are chock full of books at the moment! That said, we have an ongoing book sale should you want to pick up some of our recently weeded books from the library. |
Library Events
We think you'll like the interlibrary loan system as much as we do. The program enables us to borrow books from other libraries that we may not have! You will be able to check out and return here at your local library without the hassle.
To request an inter-library loan or to learn more, simply email [email protected], give us a call at (603)942-5472, or come in to see us. Vertical Divider
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NH 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy initiative that encourages families to read to their young children and to use the resources of their local public libraries.
Chesley Memorial Library is proud to offer this program and uplift our community's children to be life-long readers. Come see our readers' names heartily displayed on the walls of our Children's Section, and sign up to begin your child's reading challenge. New readers from newborns to pre-kindergarten age are welcome to join in. Anyone can participate until they start kindergarten. |
The NH State Library created a resource guide on researching your NH family history online from home:
https://www.nh.gov/nhsl/services/public/genealogy.html
Quick Links
Forms for Vital Records Requests
Town Records Index
https://www.nh.gov/nhsl/services/public/genealogy.html
Quick Links
Forms for Vital Records Requests
Town Records Index
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