Lisa here, breathless after a whirlwind tour of local libraries. Well, maybe that’s a wee bit of hyperbole, but here’s my report from 3 bookish events—and 2 very different New England libraries…
Over the past 10 days, I attended 2 local library events—actually, 3.
First up: I helped (wo)man the Sisters in Crime New England information table at the NH Library Trustees Association conference in Manchester. I didn’t take any photos, because it didn’t seem appropriate, but I did get to hear a surprisingly (to me) optimistic keynote speech re: IMLS funding. Here in NH, vital grant money supports the statewide interlibrary loan (ILL) system—the van courier network, online catalog software, and administrative staff required to deliver and share books between over 200 public libraries. Our small, rural towns really depend on those delivery vans to bring books to eager readers.
How “small”? Exhibit A: My own tiny, heavily wooded town of Deering, NH, has a population of 1,938 (just under 2 people for every 640 acres). I was invited to speak at the charming, cozy library last Saturday. Here’s a pic of me taking a selfie outside the venue a few days before. (I prayed the whole time no one would see me—I put my phone down whenever a car passed and pretended I was just idling around by the side of the road.)
The library operates out of a historic one-room schoolhouse tucked into the center of town. Deering has 3 buildings: the library, the town hall, and a church. (The kids attend school in neighboring Hillsboro). There is also a bandstand (or gazebo, if you’d prefer), built on the site of a long-gone hotel. The townspeople famously voted to buy the land themselves rather than allow a developer to build a trailer park.
Deering was incorporated in 1765. Before there was a formal schoolhouse, classes were held in private homes and at Alexander Robinson’s Tavern, one of the town’s earliest gathering places. If the tavern were still standing today, it would sit only steps away from the library. The town isn’t as hopping as it used to be in a commercial sense. The setting might even be too “cozy” for a cozy mystery.
The day of my visit was cold and drizzly. One of the trustees came early to warm up the library with a stove and a space heater.
I was delighted when a nice crowd of residents showed up, including a few teens. Some had even read both of my latest Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries, which were face out on the shelf. We had a lively discussion about books and publishing (several aspiring writers) and the trustee offered everyone hot coffee and homemade brownies with banana and walnuts.
This past weekend was the annual Local Author Meet & Greet at the Fuller Public Library in the aforementioned Hillsboro, NH. I adore the gorgeous, moody library (I won’t say haunted) with its Tiffany glass and gleaming woodwork. The library is contained within a former private mansion (1866 Queen Anne, owned by an industrialist and former NH governor who deeded it to the town for $1 in 1926). The library director is fabulous, and she tries very hard to bring people out to meet us local authors (by local, we mean NH). She, too, served hot coffee—along with homemade sun tea and sugary molasses cookies. The day was super hot and humid, so we all sweated it out, but it was great to see everyone again. (I also learned that one author was a panelist at Bouchercon in NOLA last year—she recognized my Sisters in Crime lanyard! Like me, she is already signed up for DC next year.)
Have to admit, I snuck inside the library a few times and snapped some photos.
I think I startled the patron in the main reading room. She didn’t seem bothered by the ghost—er, cardboard cutout—of former President Franklin Pierce (Hillsboro was his boyhood home).
And I repeat, Mystery Fans, the library is NOT haunted!
Readers, do you attend local library events (with or without ghosts)?
Chicks on the Case 
I love library events! The book chats, local authors, educational presentations. Love them! Thank you for sharing those photos of the library. It’s gorgeous — haunted or not. Ha!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Libraries large and small are definitely the lifeblood of their communities! It’s amazing how many non-book resources and opportunities they offer as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG What a beautiful library — and I love the one in your town as well. Thanks for sharing these pix. I’ve done a few library events — workshops, presentations etc. — and I love supporting libraries. They are the lifeblood of a community. PS your table looks great!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Judy! So funny, I just wrote the same phrase (“lifeblood of a community”) in response to Patricia above. But it’s true. And thanks for the kind words re: my table. Think I need to rethink spacing a bit, ha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to in NY. So far my local library programs caters to the younger patrons (children)
LikeLiked by 3 people
They need a visit from a famous local author, Dru Ann!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My local branch is primarily kid focused, so no, I don’t, but I am fortunate enough to live where we have 2 incredible independent bookstores that I patronize and attend some of their events (primarily author talks).
LikeLiked by 3 people
TWO independent bookstores, wow! Both of the closest to me are 26 miles in different directions, sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that’s umfortunate. When I am ready to loose my mind in city traffic, I remind myself of things like this! BTW, the pictures of that library are gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’ve taken pix before of that library, but every time I notice something else!
LikeLike
Love the pictures of the Hillsboro library, Lisa.
Yes, I do attend library events when they occur outside my work schedule. Too often they are scheduled for the middle of a weekday when I’m not available.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Liz, we have a mystery book club that meets at 2 times: afternoon and evening. I can’t figure out whether members switch between them, or whether that’s an option. Or even if they read different books. (I know, I should check them out. I used to belong, about 10 years ago.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful pictures, Lisa!
I love my local White Bear Lake, MN, library! It’s very active, lots of child and adult programs. I’ve met some really lovely people at its monthly Sleuth Mystery Book Club. (Did you know “sleuth” is a collective noun for a group of bears?) I’m planning to host the launch party for my first cozy mystery (tentative release date, Groundhog Day 2027) in the library community room.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Robin, congrats on your upcoming launch of your very first cozy! You’ll have to keep us posted. (Love that launch date may be Groundhog Day!). And I had no idea about the “sleuth” bears. I’ll have to let that library one in the photo know.
LikeLike
I love libraries! We have a lot of activities, so I’ll go for presentations, author panels, and crafting sessions. When the kids were younger, we also went for storytime and fun learning opportunities. As a California resident, I can pretty much get a library card anywhere in the state, so I often toggle between cards and go to virtual events as well.
P.S. That cardboard cutout would’ve given me a jump!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They move that cutout around, Jen. I don’t think Pierce was an entirely beloved president, ha. His portrait also hangs above the local tavern (the boyhood home is down the road). That’s so cool you can use your library card throughout CA. See the town price list on the bulletin board in the Deering photos. Oh. It’s kinda blurry, sorry. But library cards ain’t cheap here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, that’s too bad about the cost…
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have neither state income tax nor sales tax here, so…funds have to come from different places!
LikeLike
Wow, that last library is amazing! Nothing like that here in Santa Cruz, CA, but I do love my local libraries–especially the Friends of the Libraries, who do all the fund-raising (since the libraries themselves aren’t allowed to do so).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t tend to attend library events, mainly because they don’t have any that interest me at times I can go. When they’ve had author talks or other events, I have gone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And those libraries look like so much fun. Nothing like that in my town, unfortunately. Our libraries are nice, but they are modern buildings without any of that charm.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I imagine CA libraries as being very cool and modern, Mark, with lots of light to match the sunny weather. A lot of ours are sort of…dim light and glow-y? I don’t write at the library because you’re not supposed to have any beverages (understandably) and I need my coffee or iced tea, ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful post Lisa! The library in Hillsboro is really amazing. The library system in Akron isn’t as extensive as the Ramsey County system was in St Paul. In the small world department Robin, I belonged to the WBL general fiction book club when I lived in the area and loved it. I moved back to Ohio in 2021. Good luck with your book launch! I ❤️ libraries and have utilized them my whole life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s great to experience library systems in different states! My kids spent a lot of time in the Brooklyn Public Library growing up.
LikeLike
OMG, these libraries are so fantastic! We have nothing like them in L.A. But they remind me of my favorite library in NOLA, the Latter on St. Charles. It was an estate with a fascinating history I won’t go into here.
I’d love to do more library events but there aren’t many opportunities locally. I wish!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, NOLA! I’m sorry we didn’t get into that one during Bouchercon, due to repairs. I wonder whether there are more libraries in places where there are fewer bookstores…
LikeLike
I love a cool old library, and that last one is spectacular! How fun… and I love your lanyard re-use — especially when you’re working a Sisters in Crime booth! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Those lanyards are great because they hold pens, cards, bookmarks…and advertise Sisters in Crime to boot! Also, I think it helps for people to see your name as they’re talking to you, and where you’re from.
LikeLike
The Fuller Public Library is beautiful! And your Deering library is charming.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Each library here in NH has its own special character–and sometimes quirks.
LikeLike
Lisa – Thank you for expanding my knowledge of libraries beyond Chicagoland. The Deering library could be in a Hallmark movie. Same for the Fuller Public Library. Both are charming in their own way. I also didn’t realize NH has a statewide library lending system. I’ve only been aware of our local lending between libraries. I can imagine the excitement when the delivery van pulls up.
In answer to your question, yes, I attend local library functions. I have not seen any ghosts to date, but Halloween will be here before we know it, so you never know. 🙂 My town’s library has spoiled me. They always having something going on, including author events and multiple book clubs. It’s a bustling, happening place!
LikeLike