Board of Trustee Members
Betty Smith, Chair
Pat Vaillancourt, Treasurer
David Coursin, Secretary
Dana Hochgraf, Alternate
Pat Savage, Alternate
Pat Vaillancourt, Treasurer
David Coursin, Secretary
Dana Hochgraf, Alternate
Pat Savage, Alternate
The Chesley Memorial Library Board of Trustees will meet at the Library on the following dates:
Friday, January 9, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, February 13, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, May 8, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, June 12, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, July 10, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, August 14, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, September 11, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, October 9, 2026 @9:00am
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 9:00am
Friday, December 11, 2026 @ 9:00am
(Nonpublic session if needed RSA 91-A:3, II)
Northwood Libraries Update September 2025
The Chesley Memorial Library Trustees
share the following message:
The largest version of Chesley Memorial Library is safe for now. It is a state-wide library with the support of state and federal funds administered by the NH State Library. All the books in over 240 NH local libraries effectively become Northwood books through the NH Interlibrary Loan System. All the digital eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines collected by a consortium of over 200 local NH libraries also become our digital resources through the Libby app.
But funding for these essential services has been on the chopping block in the State House and in Washington since March. By June, an amendment to the NH House budget proposed the elimination of all state funding for the NH State Library, just as Congress cut all the funding for state libraries from the federal budget proposed by the US House of Representatives.
Both threats were met with mounting public opposition through emails, letters, phone calls, and testimony. This pushback succeeded in restoring most of the federal funding through September 2027 and a portion of the state funding that will hopefully go to the NH State Library through June 2027.
Libby and interlibrary loans may remain safe well into 2027, but opponents of local libraries have not gone away in Concord or Washington. They may try to claw back the approved funding or make drastic cuts in future budgets.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for informing the public about such threats. It will continue to publish important updates, so supporters know if they must act again to protect their libraries. Otherwise, all of us will be left with small, hobbled versions of what we now have.
The Chesley Memorial Library Trustees
share the following message:
The largest version of Chesley Memorial Library is safe for now. It is a state-wide library with the support of state and federal funds administered by the NH State Library. All the books in over 240 NH local libraries effectively become Northwood books through the NH Interlibrary Loan System. All the digital eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines collected by a consortium of over 200 local NH libraries also become our digital resources through the Libby app.
But funding for these essential services has been on the chopping block in the State House and in Washington since March. By June, an amendment to the NH House budget proposed the elimination of all state funding for the NH State Library, just as Congress cut all the funding for state libraries from the federal budget proposed by the US House of Representatives.
Both threats were met with mounting public opposition through emails, letters, phone calls, and testimony. This pushback succeeded in restoring most of the federal funding through September 2027 and a portion of the state funding that will hopefully go to the NH State Library through June 2027.
Libby and interlibrary loans may remain safe well into 2027, but opponents of local libraries have not gone away in Concord or Washington. They may try to claw back the approved funding or make drastic cuts in future budgets.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for informing the public about such threats. It will continue to publish important updates, so supporters know if they must act again to protect their libraries. Otherwise, all of us will be left with small, hobbled versions of what we now have.
Archive of Meeting Minutes
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