A searing Southern story about confronting the difference between the family you're born into and the family you choose, from the acclaimed author of How to Bury Your Brother.

Learning to Speak Southern by Lindsey Rogers Cook is available instantly, in e-book format in your hoopla app, or at https://www.hoopladigital.com. There are unlimited digital copies - no holds, no waiting! You can read this title on a mobile device or computer.

• e-book: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/14108649
• Discussion guide, exclusive author Q&A, and additional recommended titles for book club readers: http://theclub.hoopladigital.com

"No Normal is the re-introduction of the classic character Ms. Marvel — expect this time she's not Carol Danvers, she's Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Muslim Pakistani-American girl from Jersey City. If you're worried that doesn't sound relatable, fear not, dear reader — cultural differences notwithstanding, Kamala Khan is an ordinary, lovable, witty (and angst) teenager who writes Avengers fan-fic and longs to fit in with the popular crowd."

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal, by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona, is available instantly, in e-book format in your hoopla app at www.hoopladigital.com. There are unlimited digital copies - no holds, no waiting! You can read this title on a mobile device or computer.

• Visit theclub.hoopladigital.com/graphicnovel/ for a discussion guide, a letter from the author, and additional recommended titles for readers.

Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.

Sharing stories important to us means sharing a part of ourselves. Books reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, creates barriers.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020 on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8DbrJiaYFbM

Celebrate the right to read. The Goffstown Public Library supports your Constitutional right to access the information you want and hopes you will exercise that right by reading a challenged book. Visit the Library to interact with this week's banned book displays, check out a book, or participate in one of the special activities on the calendar.

Banned Books Week is an annual week-long event celebrating the freedom to read, highlighting the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

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All knitters & crocheters are welcome, all ages, all levels of experience!

No registration required.

For some children, weekends can be a time of hunger and anxiety. With your donations, you can help Goffstown Public Library and Goffstown Network provide these children with a backpack of food every Friday.

All food donations must be non-perishable, individually factory packaged, and must not require a can-opener or cooking. Microwavable food is accepted.

Find a list of critical-need items at https://www.goffstownlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/BackpackFoodDriveOct.2021_Handout_EK.pdf

Please drop off your donations at two locations during open hours:

• Goffstown Network Food Pantry, St. Matthew's, 7 North Mast Street, (603) 497-3433, goffstownnetwork.org 
• Goffstown Public Library, 2 High Street, (603) 497-2102, www.goffstownlibrary.com

Calling all moms! Join us at the Parks and Recreation Building for an empowering conversation with Jill Coletti about how you can use mindfulness to navigate motherhood's challenges. Jill is a Reiki Master and Multidimensional Energy Healer, Life Coach, Published Author and  High Vibe Spiritual Mama. She helps moms by teaching them how to prioritize themselves, connect with their energy and  heal, escaping the vicious Groundhog Day cycle of disruptive generational patterns. Learn how to rewrite your story and design a life you love!

Registration is appreciated.

Sweeten up your October dining table with a candy corn centerpiece so lovely it looks good enough to eat! These larger-than-life candies are made out of only two materials and will be completed in under 30 minutes. That’s why this is a great craft whatever your level of making expertise. Craft your own by following along with Michelle in this video tutorial. 

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

"This powerful collection of short stories traces an emotional arc inspired by Madeleine L'Engle's early life and career, from her lonely childhood in New York to her life as a mother in small-town Connecticut. In a selection of eighteen stories discovered by one of L'Engle's granddaughters, we see how L'Engle's personal experiences and abiding faith informed the creation of her many cherished works."

This month we're reading: The Moment of Tenderness by Madeleine L’Engle

No registration is required, we will meet on the lawn. In the event of inclement weather, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library, and some may be available through our e-library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book. Large print and audiobooks may also be available. Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Evening Book Discussion, held on the first Tuesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome!

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the New Hampshire State Library.

Every other Friday at 1pm on Goffstown Public Library's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

Join Michelle in her regular video series talking about books. The same conversation you know and love with your librarians, now online. Find recommendations, new authors, and unique reads. Something for every reader!

No registration required. After the premiere, each video is available for viewing at any time.

Join us at the Historical Society for a musical evening of seasonal songs about witches, ghosts, murder and magical retribution from the traditions of Ireland, England and America. The tunes and stories performed by acoustic trio Speed the Plough will take you back to a time before Halloween meant buying five-pound bags of individually wrapped candies and dressing your dachshund up in a hot dog costume. Enjoy an evening of ditties devised long before Halloween’s candied commercialism, songs steeped in the ancient traditions of All Hallows Eve.

Registration is appreciated. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged.

This is the Friends monthly meeting.

The Friends of the Goffstown Public Library is an association interested in the Goffstown Public Library, which supports the Library Bill of Rights, and offers the opportunity to focus public attention on and stimulate the use of the library. Visit www.goffstownfriends.com for more information.

The Friends usually meet on the second Wednesday of every month, please check the Library calendar for up-to-date scheduling.

Are you letting money escape through your appliances, windows, walls, and doors? What strategies can you employ to save on your home energy expenditures? Goffstown Public Library is proud to welcome Andy Duncan and Ted Stiles as representatives for the NHSaves Consortium. Learn about saving electricity, insulation, and air sealing, while improving your understanding of incentives from NH’s energy utilities such as energy audits, weatherization programs, and rebates on electric and gas appliances.

Registration is required. We will meet remotely, and all registered participants will receive an email invitation to join the discussion.

The Friends of the Library will be hosting their book sale on the lawn of the Library. RAIN or SHINE.

2-3pm is the $10 bag sale - bring your own reusable shopping bag.

• Books are: sorted & categorized, all new donations, not picked over, and never scanned.
• The Friends will also be collecting donations from the public through Monday, September 27. Just drop off books (in bags or boxes, please) at the Goffstown Public Library during business hours only. We cannot accept damaged or text books, Reader's Digest condensed books, encyclopedias or magazines, or titles that are dusty or moldy. September 27 will be the last day donations are accepted until we resume collecting on October 25.
• Volunteers for this event are always needed, please let us know if you can lend a hand at the email or phone # below.

Decorate with the spirit of the autumn season by crafting a set of abstract paper pumpkins. Inspired by the pumpkin patch, these whimsical hanging pumpkins will bring the fall colors indoors for you to enjoy. Make your own by following along with Michelle in this video tutorial. 

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy paper craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

Game Night is a new monthly series from the Goffstown Public Library.

Dice games, board games, card games – for every gamer, there’s a thrilling game waiting to be played.  

Encounter new crowd-pleasers and old favorites at this monthly meetup for adults and older teens. Try out games for your next game night. And meet with fellow gamers in our community.  

Haven’t played before? Need a refresher? No problem! An instructional session will begin at 6:30pm to teach you how to play. If you have played before, skip the instruction and just come gameplay starting at 7pm.  

This month's game is Nerts. Nerts, also called Peanuts, Pounce, or Racing Demon, is a fast paced card game that combines elements of Speed and Solitaire. You might also describe it as 'competitive solitaire'. Use your quick reactions and awareness of the cards to clear your card piles before other players -- don't forget to yell "Nerts!"

This event will be held inside the Library. Social distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself. 

No registration required.

"Dublin detective Rob Ryan works a case which closely resembles an unfortunate incident from his own childhood, twenty years earlier."

This month we're reading In the Woods by Tana French.

No registration is required, we will meet on the lawn. In the event of inclement weather, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Afternoon Book Discussion, held on the third Wednesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome! Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the New Hampshire State Library.

As humans paved paradise and put up a parking lot, we have reduced the ability of the ground to soak up the rain. This increased runoff carries pollutants off-site and eventually into our rivers, streams, and lakes. Responsibility for our waterways begins locally with the Department of Public Works managing our municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) permit, in compliance with the EPA Clean Water Act. Adams Jacobs, Public Works Director of the Town of Goffstown will speak about the threat to the Merrimack River as paved surfaces and polluted run-off increases, and what might be done to mitigate this on-going threat as part of the Gregory J. Grappone '04 Humanities Institute at Saint Anselm College's 2021-2022 BIG THOUGHT series: A River Runs Through Us.

The series is a year-long exploration of the geographical, ecological, biological, historical, economic, and cultural relationship we all share with the Merrimack River. The many events are designed to help us understand the profound and ubiquitous power that the Merrimack River has in our lives, and to reflect upon the power and presence water has in shaping and sustaining our humanity.

For more information, visit the series' website: www.anselm.edu/gregory-j-grappone-humanities-institute/big-thought-series

No registration required. This event will be held inside. Social distancing may not always be possible due to space constraints—make the best decision for you.

LOCATION - Roger and Francine Jean Student Center | Top floor | Saint Anselm College

Every other Friday at 1pm on Goffstown Public Library's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

Join Michelle in her regular video series talking about books. The same conversation you know and love with your librarians, now online. Find recommendations, new authors, and unique reads. Something for every reader!

No registration required. After the premiere, each video is available for viewing at any time.

All knitters & crocheters are welcome, all ages, all levels of experience!

No registration required.

A "page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end" (School Library Journal) about a road trip in a snowstorm that turns into bone-chilling disaster, from New York Times bestselling mystery author and "master of tension" (BCCB) Natalie D. Richards.

Beginning November 1, Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards will be available instantly, in e-book format in the Libby app. There are unlimited digital copies - no holds, no waiting!

• Discussion Guide and Author Letter at https://biglibraryread.com/current-title.

Capture the autumnal beauty indoors while preserving your favorite memories. This rustic photo frame is sure to fascinate alongside your fall decor. Make your own by following along with Michelle in this video tutorial. 

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

"The Hidden Life of Trees draws on up-to-date research and engaging forester stories to reveal how trees nurture each other and communicate, outlining the life cycles of "tree families" that support mutual growth, share nutrients, and contribute to a resilient ecosystem."

This month we're reading: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

No registration is required, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library, and some may be available through our e-library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book. Large print and audiobooks may also be available. Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Evening Book Discussion, held on the first Tuesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome!

Goffstown Public Library is excited to welcome Younhee Shin, who will lead a 90-minute craft workshop in the art of traditional Korean lotus lanterns. These lanterns use wire frames and colored paper to symbolize lighting up the world with purity and wisdom. Younhee will provide information on how the lotus lanterns are used in Korean culture, as well as step-by-step instructions on completing the craft. Each participant will leave with a stunning lantern to display in their home and a greater appreciation for Korea's people and traditions.

Younhee Shin is the program coordinator for the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project. The KSCPP is a not-for-profit, non-government organization dedicated to the promotion of greater awareness and understanding of Korean history and culture. Among other things, the KSCPP gives lectures and presentations on Korean history and culture for those who are interested in widening their perspective.

You can attend this program either in-person, where Younhee will appear to us on the big screen, or virtually, where you'll join Younhee on the Zoom call. Make your selection in the registration form.

All supplies are provided whether you choose to attend personally or virtually. And don't forget to wear comfortable clothes to get messy while crafting; you never know what can happen during the creative process!

Registration is required - this workshop is for adults ages 17 and older.

This is the Friends monthly meeting.

The Friends of the Goffstown Public Library is an association interested in the Goffstown Public Library, which supports the Library Bill of Rights, and offers the opportunity to focus public attention on and stimulate the use of the library. Visit www.goffstownfriends.com for more information.

The Friends usually meet on the second Wednesday of every month, please check the Library calendar for up-to-date scheduling.

Sherry Gould, enrolled member and Tribal Genealogist in the Nulhegan Band of Coosuk Abenaki and Co-founder of Nulhegan’s Abenaki Trails Project will speak about what rivers and wet lands meant to Abenaki people historically and their cultural importance today.

Dr. Robert Goodby, Professor of Anthropology at Franklin Pierce University, an archaeologist with over 30 years of experience excavating Native American sites in New England, and author of A Deep Presence: 13,000 Years of Native American History (2021) will speak about what the archaeological record tells us about the importance of rivers to Native Americans.

This is part of the Gregory J. Grappone '04 Humanities Institute at Saint Anselm College's 2021-2022 BIG THOUGHT series: A River Runs Through Us. The series is a year-long exploration of the geographical, ecological, biological, historical, economic, and cultural relationship we all share with the Merrimack River. The many events are designed to help us understand the profound and ubiquitous power that the Merrimack River has in our lives, and to reflect upon the power and presence water has in shaping and sustaining our humanity. For more information, visit the series' website: www.anselm.edu/gregory-j-grappone-humanities-institute/big-thought-series

No registration required. This event will be held inside. Social distancing may not always be possible due to space constraints—make the best decision for you.

LOCATION - Roger and Francine Jean Student Center | Top floor | Saint Anselm College

Every other Friday at 1pm on Goffstown Public Library's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

Join Michelle in her regular video series talking about books. The same conversation you know and love with your librarians, now online. Find recommendations, new authors, and unique reads. Something for every reader!

No registration required. After the premiere, each video is available for viewing at any time.

Celebrate the season by evoking nature’s bounty (and become the envy of your neighborhood squirrels)! Join Michelle as she demonstrates how to make an acorn-shaped party banner - perfect for decorating a mantle or doorway - in this video tutorial.

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy paper craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

Game Night is a new monthly series from the Goffstown Public Library.

Dice games, board games, card games – for every gamer, there’s a thrilling game waiting to be played.  

Encounter new crowd-pleasers and old favorites at this monthly meetup for adults and older teens. Try out games for your next game night. And meet with fellow gamers in our community.  

Haven’t played before? Need a refresher? No problem! An instructional session will begin at 6:30pm to teach you how to play. If you have played before, skip the instruction and just come gameplay starting at 7pm.  

This month's game is to be determined.

In the event of inclement weather, gameplay will be moved inside. Social distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself. 

No registration required.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the New Hampshire State Library.

"The classic bittersweet story of love and betrayal, The Ginger Tree is the spellbinding odyssey of one woman's strength and spirit in the face of terrifying odds.

In 1903, a young Scotswoman is outcast by British society after having an affair with a Japanese nobleman. Abandoned and alone, she learns to survive over forty tumultuous years in Asia during the 20th century."

This month we're reading The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd.

No registration is required, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Afternoon Book Discussion, held on the third Wednesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome! Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book.

All knitters & crocheters are welcome, all ages, all levels of experience!

No registration required.

Every other Friday at 1pm on Goffstown Public Library's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

Join Michelle in her regular video series talking about books. The same conversation you know and love with your librarians, now online. Find recommendations, new authors, and unique reads. Something for every reader!

No registration required. After the premiere, each video is available for viewing at any time.

Make something amazing during a relaxed evening with other beginner crafters! Our Adult Services Librarian Michelle will demonstrate how to design a tulle wreath perfect for winter decor in this 90-minute workshop. These wreaths can be made with no glue and limited skill; that's why this craft is perfect for every adult who doesn't think they're creative. Each participant will leave with a beautiful and individualized wreath to hang at home.  

All supplies are provided. And don't forget to wear comfortable clothes to get messy; you never know what can happen during the creative process!

Registration is required - this workshop is for adults ages 17 and older.

This event will be held inside the Library. Social distancing may not always be possible due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Create a custom miniature gingerbread village without any baking or messy frosting. This cardboard option uses recycled materials to create a cookie wonderland with less fussing over getting your royal icing to harden and more fun decorating to your heart's content! Learn to make your own by following along with Michelle in this video tutorial.

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy paper craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

"By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, this New York Times bestseller is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for how boys become men."

This month we're reading: City of Thieves by David Benioff

No registration is required, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library, and some may be available through our e-library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book. Large print and audiobooks may also be available. Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Evening Book Discussion, held on the first Tuesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome!

This is the Friends monthly meeting.

The Friends of the Goffstown Public Library is an association interested in the Goffstown Public Library, which supports the Library Bill of Rights, and offers the opportunity to focus public attention on and stimulate the use of the library. Visit www.goffstownfriends.com for more information.

The Friends usually meet on the second Wednesday of every month, please check the Library calendar for up-to-date scheduling.

Every other Friday at 1pm on Goffstown Public Library's YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary

Join Michelle in her regular video series talking about books. The same conversation you know and love with your librarians, now online. Find recommendations, new authors, and unique reads. Something for every reader!

No registration required. After the premiere, each video is available for viewing at any time.

Gather with other adults for an evening of holiday music and tacky fashion choices. You'll be able to choose from the Library's entire collection of craft supplies to create the ultimate ugly holiday sweater. No artistic talent? No problem! This event is for every adult who doesn't think they're creative. You can let your imagination flow without the pressure of being perfect, or even good!

You bring the sweater; we'll bring the ugly-- and all the supplies to create it. Don't forget to wear clothes to get messy!

Registration is required - this workshop is for adults ages 17 and older.

This event will be held inside the Library. Social distancing may not always be possible due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Join us for a festive morning filled with holiday music, cheery conversation, and lots of wrapping paper. You'll enjoy a laid-back atmosphere to trade techniques with other wrappers or simply check off wrapping presents from your holiday to-do list. And if you're interested in the do-it-yourself approach, our adult services librarian Michelle will be on hand to guide participants through making potato stamped paper and homemade bows.

Bring as many unwrapped presents as you'd like. The Library will supply tape, scissors, ribbon, paper, gift tags, gift bags, and tissue paper. If you have special materials you want to use, feel free to bring your own.

And don't forget to wear clothes to get messy; you never know what can happen during the creative process!

Registration is required - this workshop is for adults ages 17 and older.

This event will be held inside the Library. Social distancing may not always be possible due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Deck the halls DIY-style with these pom-pom ornaments. Each ornament is made from brightly colored acrylic yarn and an upcycled soda bottle cap. Choose the color that best fits your holiday decorations to put your own spin on the craft. Learn to make your own by following along with Michelle in this video tutorial.

Watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/goffstownlibrary.

This easy yarn craft is perfect for beginners. No registration is required. After the premiere, this video will be available for viewing at any time. And while supplies last, stop by the Library to pick up an Adult-To-Go kit with select materials needed to follow along with the video.

Game Night is a new monthly series from the Goffstown Public Library.

Dice games, board games, card games – for every gamer, there’s a thrilling game waiting to be played.  

Encounter new crowd-pleasers and old favorites at this monthly meetup for adults and older teens. Try out games for your next game night. And meet with fellow gamers in our community.  

Haven’t played before? Need a refresher? No problem! An instructional session will begin at 6:30pm to teach you how to play. If you have played before, skip the instruction and just come gameplay starting at 7pm.  

This month's game is to be determined.

In the event of inclement weather, gameplay will be moved inside. Social distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself. 

No registration required.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the New Hampshire State Library.

"The subtitle to this book says it all: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the making of Winston Churchill."

This month we're reading Hero of the Empire by Candice Millard.

No registration is required, we will meet inside — physical distancing may not always be possible inside the Library due to space constraints; make the best decision for yourself.

Build community and share your love of reading by joining the Goffstown Public Library's Afternoon Book Discussion, held on the third Wednesday of every month. Conversations are casual and supportive; new members are always welcome! Physical copies of book group titles are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Goffstown Public Library. Contact the meeting's moderator for more information or if you need help accessing this month's book.

All knitters & crocheters are welcome, all ages, all levels of experience!

No registration required.