Members
Valerie Acres, President
Sue Lombard, Secretary
Pat Grobecker, Treasurer
Valerie Acres, President
Sue Lombard, Secretary
Pat Grobecker, Treasurer
Friends of the Northwood Libraries
The Friends of the Library are a group of citizens who have joined together to support, improve, and promote the library of Northwood. They understand the importance of library service to the community and work in many ways to help provide quality service and stimulate library use. The Friends provide materials (such as bookshelves), services (like the volunteer appreciation day), and special programs (like Humor and Harmony) that supplement the library's budget.
Why should you join the friends? By joining, you show the community that you feel that the library is an important institution in the Northwood community. By joining the Friends of the Library you can help provide direct support for the library by participating in fundraising activities.
The Friends of the Northwood Libraries also sells copies of A Guide to the History and Old Dwelling Places of Northwood, New Hampshire, by town historian Joann Weeks Bailey. Copies sell for $25.00 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends and the library. To purchase a copy of the book by mail please send a check or money order for $32.20 (book price + shipping) to the Chesley Memorial Library attention Friends. For more information on purchasing a copy by mail, please call Donna Bunker at 942-5472.
Why should you join the friends? By joining, you show the community that you feel that the library is an important institution in the Northwood community. By joining the Friends of the Library you can help provide direct support for the library by participating in fundraising activities.
The Friends of the Northwood Libraries also sells copies of A Guide to the History and Old Dwelling Places of Northwood, New Hampshire, by town historian Joann Weeks Bailey. Copies sell for $25.00 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Friends and the library. To purchase a copy of the book by mail please send a check or money order for $32.20 (book price + shipping) to the Chesley Memorial Library attention Friends. For more information on purchasing a copy by mail, please call Donna Bunker at 942-5472.
The Friends of the Northwood Libraries meet periodically at the Chesley Memorial Library throughout the year. For more information, call the Chesley Memorial Library at 942-5472, or check out our calendar page.
Soup's On and Pie 2023
On Friday, January 20th, what should've been the return of the annual Soup's On & Pie event, was delayed till Saturday due to a large snowstorm. Despite this, the success for the event was booming and we are so pleased with the turn out, flexibility seen by all involved, and the response from the community who picked up soup's, pies, and breads made by volunteers to support the library. Thank you!
CHILDREN'S BOOK BIN DONATIONS
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Rolling book bins that display books at their eye level make it simple for kids to find books of interest in several libraries in New Hampshire. Thanks to assistance from the Friends of the Northwood Libraries, the Chesley Memorial Library was able to purchase book bins for the picture books! |
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2020
Order options:
Full Meal (12 oz. soup, roll, and piece of pie) $10.00 1 (12 oz.) serving of soup and a roll $6.00 1 Piece of pie $5.00 |
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BIG BLOOMING BOOK SALE
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A special thanks to all those you attended the 2020 Big Blooming Book Sale! $714 was raised to help the library.
The Friends of the Library held their Big Blooming Book Sale at the Northwood Congregational Church Apple Festival. The tragic loss of the Masonic Hall last year impacted their ability to hold the book sale in the spring as they were not able to find a suitable location for the amount of time they needed. |
2019
SOUP'S ON and PIE
November 1, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
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Delicious Homemade Soups and Pies warmed up and filled hungry patrons tummys. Everyone enjoyed the generous servings of good food and friendly company at Chesley Memorial Library.
The Friends of the Northwood Library did a fantastic job with this event. Alot of hard work by this group gave our community a chance to partake of real home made foods, Thank you to all. All proceeds go to the Friends to support the library services.
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SOUPS: Beef stew, butternut squash, chili, corn chowder, fish chowder, Italian chicken soup, kielbasa potato soup, tomato basil
PIES: Apple, blueberry, chocolate walnut, custard, Kahlua pecan, lemon meringue, peach crumble, pumpkin 
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Humor and Harmony was held Saturday, October 26 at the Northwood Congregational Church
The Chesley Memorial Library and the Friends of the Northwood Libraries sponsored "Humor&Harmony” featuring Rebecca Rule and Cordwood.
To view some of Cordwood's performance, click here or here.
Special guest Joel Sherburne from Calef’s Country Store delighted the audience with his own special brand of humor.
To view some of Rebecca Rule's and Joel Sherburne's humorous stories, click here or here.
Proceeds from this event benefited the library.
Thank You Northwood Congregational Church for hosting this event!
To view some of Cordwood's performance, click here or here.
Special guest Joel Sherburne from Calef’s Country Store delighted the audience with his own special brand of humor.
To view some of Rebecca Rule's and Joel Sherburne's humorous stories, click here or here.
Proceeds from this event benefited the library.
Thank You Northwood Congregational Church for hosting this event!
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BATTLE OF THE BOOK LAUNCHES!
It’s a Mother/Daughter Face-Off between Two Granite State Authors!
In this corner, champion of Yankee culture, weighing in at over a dozen books with fat awards, it's Moose of Humor Rebecca Rule! She’ll be launching THAT REMINDS ME OF A FUNNY STORY, a memoir/storytelling how-to/compendium of Yankee humor. Appropriate for all ages, but especially grown-ups.
In that corner, wielding princess power and the magic of friendship, weighing in at three books with sparkly covers, it’s Adi Rule! She’ll be launching HEARTS OF ICE, a wintry fantasy perfect for ages 8-12 and anyone young at heart. Yankee and Princess/Prince costumes welcome — prizes for our favorites!
Friday, September 6, 6:00 pm, at the Northwood Congregational Church
In this corner, champion of Yankee culture, weighing in at over a dozen books with fat awards, it's Moose of Humor Rebecca Rule! She’ll be launching THAT REMINDS ME OF A FUNNY STORY, a memoir/storytelling how-to/compendium of Yankee humor. Appropriate for all ages, but especially grown-ups.
In that corner, wielding princess power and the magic of friendship, weighing in at three books with sparkly covers, it’s Adi Rule! She’ll be launching HEARTS OF ICE, a wintry fantasy perfect for ages 8-12 and anyone young at heart. Yankee and Princess/Prince costumes welcome — prizes for our favorites!
Friday, September 6, 6:00 pm, at the Northwood Congregational Church
Rebecca Rule is a full-time writer, humorist, storyteller, and host for 10 years of the NH Authors Series and Our Hometown. She’s been telling stories in New England, especially New Hampshire, for more than twenty years. She hasn’t visited every town in the Granite State, but pretty close — speaking at libraries, historical societies, rotaries, clubs, church groups, camp grounds, and charitable organizations. She says she likes collecting stories because “they’re free and you don’t have to dust them."
She’s the author of a dozen books including N is for NH, an ABC book with photographs by Scott Snyder. Other books include The Iciest Diciest Scariest Sled Ride Ever!, a picture book, illustrated by Jennifer Thermes; Headin’ for the Rhubarb, A NH Dictionary (well, kinda); and The Best Revenge, named one of five essential NH Books by NH Magazine and Outstanding Work of Fiction by the NH Writers Project. Sixty Years of Cuttin’ the Cheese: Joel Sherburne and Calef’s Famous Country Store takes a look at the beloved institution of the general store through the eyes of an amazing (and very funny) man who’s worked in one for sixty years and counting. Her new book, That Reminds Me of a FUNNY Story, will be published this fall by Hobblebush Press. www.rebeccarule.com 
That Reminds Me of a Funny Story
Summary: "In her career as a yankee storyteller, Rebecca Rule has traveled throughout New England telling stories and gathering them. One story leads to another. At town halls, historical societies, churches, and senior centers, people have shared stories that connect them to this rocky old place we call home. They’ve shared stories of family, country living, adventures and misadventures, triumphs and “what the heck was that just happened?” This book is the capstone on a twenty-five year career; the best of the best of these stories are collected here. It is also a memoir of how she came to be a storyteller, why storytelling matters, and what she has learned about the craft in the hundreds of performances she has given. It’s a book full of characters, insight, heart, and good humor. Careful where you read it because you will be laughing out loud." Vertical Divider
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"Adi Rule is the author of The Hidden Twin and Strange Sweet Song, which won the 2016 NH Writers Project literary award for Outstanding Young Adult Book as well as the Vermont College of Fine Arts Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Prize (St Martin’s Press). Her middle grade debut, Hearts of Ice, came out in September 2019 from Scholastic. Adi has led workshops throughout New England for groups that include 826 Boston, the VCFA Young Writers Network, and the NH Writers Project. Her work has appeared in Hunger Mountain journal of the arts and NH Pulp Fiction anthologies. She also contributes essays and features to New Hampshire Magazine." - https://www.adirule.com/bio
From adirule :
Evangeline has been lonely her whole life. Her mother rarely lets her play outside . . . especially not when it's snowing. It's almost as if she wants to hide her daughter from the world. For as long as she can remember, Evangeline has felt someone missing, like a best friend who moved away, or an imaginary friend she's forgotten. She knows it sounds crazy, but the thought has always given her comfort—the idea that there's someone waiting for her, looking for her. Someone who cares about her. On her birthday, Evangeline finds her window has blown open and her room is full of snow. There's a message written in the frost. One word: HELP Evangeline learns that she has a sister — a twin, in fact. They were both born in another world—a land of snow and music and ancient magic. Now, someone is calling Evangeline back, and will stop at nothing to lure her into the magical realm where danger lurks. |
Bottle Rockets at Bean Hole Bash were fantastic!
It was a beautiful day for launching Bottle Rockets, Kids of all ages joined in - wondering what a Bottle Rocket would do. Would it flop? Did it make any noise? Would it really fly? No one really knew, not until they built one of their very own, filled it with air from a bicycle pump and watched and waited in great anticipation.......Everyone was thrilled with the results!
The Friends of the Library “blasted off” at the Bean Hole Bash this summer! Thanks so much for showing us all how to make these Bottle Rockets and launching them for us - Rick Alleva, Ed.D., UNH Cooperative Extension!
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Friends of the Library's Blooming Book Sale was a success!
Friends First Book Sale is a Blooming Success
The Friends of the Chesley Library thank book donors, buyers, and volunteers for their help with the first annual Big Blooming Book Sale. Thanks also to the Masons for their generous loan of their hall where the sale was held. The sale netted over a thousand dollars. This money will be used for library projects and expenses. Projects have included repairs to the walkway, museum passes, subscriptions for genealogical services, and the picnic table among many others.
The Big Blooming Book Sale was an especially satisfying fundraiser. People who donated books were happy to find a good cause to support and good homes for their treasures. People who bought books were happy to be able to choose from the hundreds of offerings. Picture books sold for a quarter each. Young readers seemed to have a great time filling their bags with these books, many of them like new. Fiction fans sought out their favorite authors in stacks sorted alphabetically by many hands. The history, how-to, and crafts sections were also popular.
One young reader came in looking for books on Marco Polo. Sure enough, one was eventually located. A perfect fit.
In the category of “this is amazing,” a woman picked up a book that looked familiar. She opened it to a bookmarked page and there was her family name. She turned to the front cover and there was her own name, handwritten. This book — Who’s Who of 1915 — had been a favorite when she was a child. It had been lost or given away in a move. Forty years later, it was back in her hands. She couldn’t have been more tickled.
2018
SOUP’S ON WITH PIE - Friday, Nov. 2 from 5 - 7 pm
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Please join the Friends of the Library on Friday, November 2, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. for their Soup’s On With Pie fundraising event. Soups on the menu include: beef stew, chicken soup, chili, fish chowder, squash soup, and vegetarian chili. Pies on the menu include: apple, blueberry, chocolate, custard, lemon, and pumpkin. Soup will be served in to-go packaging so you can enjoy it in the cozy library or take it home for later. Small soup and roll: $5.00; large soup and two rolls: $10.00; slice of pie: $3.00; whole pie: $12.00. Beverages will be provided at no charge. All proceeds go to the Friends to support library services. |
CANDIDATES NIGHT
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The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries are set to face off in the general election on November 6. They will get a chance to ask for support and participate in a question-and-answer session with voters at the Northwood Town Hall on Thursday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m. Northwood will choose state representatives in Rockingham District 1 (Northwood only) and District 32 (Candia, Deerfield, Northwood, and Nottingham.) The state senator for District 17 and the executive councilor for District 4 will also be elected. Candidates Night is sponsored by the Friends of the Northwood Libraries and the Harvey Lake Women’s Club.
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Saturday July 28th - Bean Hole Bash!
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Join the Friends of the Northwood Libraries at the Bean Hole Bash on Saturday, July 28, to make felted rock monsters. The Friends will be in the Northwood Congregational Church’s Fellowship Hall from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm so join them to make your own felted rock monster.
Cute monsters, scary monsters…the possibilities are endless! |
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Rebecca Rule, Joel Sherburne and Cordwood kept the audience on their toes.
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Rebecca led off with her yankee yarrns and Joel added spice to her repertoire with stories about beans, cuttin cheese and ladies hats from Calef's Country Store days. Cordwood's notes were clrear, clean and crisp. They strummed, picked and plucked their guitars, banjos and washboard to some really fun bluegrass. The crowd loved it all clapping so loudly that the noise resounded off the old masonic halls walls. Great sound filled the room for over 2 hours. It was a night to remember.
The Chesley Memorial Library and the Friends of the Northwood Libraries sponsored "Humor & Harmony” at the Masonic Hall on Route 4 in Northwood on Saturday, May 19, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. |
Cordwood is a bluegrass and folk quartet made up of instrumental, vocal, and recording artists from Northwood, Durham, and Deerfield. This is not your local neighborhood hobby band. They are a fine group of seasoned New England musicians. Each can hold his or her own at field picking or a back stage jam, and yet, as a band, they present a highly polished on-stage performance. All four members of Cordwood are storytellers and songwriters, creating original material for instrumentalists who can sing and harmonize, sometimes taking the lead vocal, other times hanging back and lending two, three, or even four part harmonies to a song. Cordwood provides a unique sound to both originals and the covers they perform. Their tunes remain heartfelt and down-home. The band’s material is a mixture of traditional bluegrass, folk, and swing. Cordwood is Wini Scovill Young on banjo and guitar, Walt Kutylowski on bass, Al Pratt on guitar, and Bob Young on mandolin, names you may remember from Big Chicken, The Deerfield Coffeehouse Band, and Fat Hands.
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CANDIDATES NIGHT
There will be a Candidates Night on Wednesday, February 21, at the Northwood Town Hall. It will begin at 7:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity for all voters and interested people to meet those running for Northwood offices in the March elections. It will be moderated by former Moderator Robbie Robertson and all candidates will have an opportunity to speak briefly and answer questions from the audience. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Northwood Libraries and the Harvey Lake Woman’s Club.
2017
Third Annual Soup's On - Saturday, November 4th from 4 to 6 pm.
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The Friends of the Chesley Memorial Library hosted a heart warming, stomach filling and very tasty meal on Saturday, November 4th.There was a delicious selection of homemade soups, breads, desserts, beverages and some musical accompaniment provided by fiddler Steve Schulz.
Choices included: SOUPS: Beef stew, chicken, chili, corn chowder, fish chowder, eggplant, tuscan white bean BREADS: Cornbread, cranberry bread, pumpkin bread
DESSERTS: Bars, cookies BEVERAGES: Cider, coffee, water (Food and drinks available while they last) All proceeds will benefit the Chesley Memorial Library. |
2017 |
The Friends of the Library was at the Bean Hole Bash 2017
on Saturday, July 29th! The Friends of the Library were at the Bean Hole Bash. They had books and sundries for sale. People browsed, picked out favorite things and made us an offer. There will be no price tags, every sale was a donation. Enjoying the children's activies at the Bean Hole Bash. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library and led by Robbie Robertson the kids pounded nails and built with Magformers. Enjoying shopping at the Friends of the Library annual book sale. $300 was realized and will go toward library activities and improvements. |
