Nashua Public Library
The Nashua Public Library is the public library of Nashua, New Hampshire.
History of Nashua Public Library
In 1867, the Nashua Public Library was established. It was located on the second floor of the County Records Building. The Union Athenaeum, a private reading club formed in 1851, and the holdings from the Nashua Manufacturing Company’s library were donated to the new public library.In March 1901, approval was given to start work on a new building for the library due to a donation from Mary A. and Mary E. Hunt. It was designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram in the Gothic Revival style. In 1903, two and a half years later, the Hunt Memorial Library was opened. It was named in memory of John M. Hunt.
Chandler Memorial Library
In 1959, the Victorian home of Seth D. Chandler, a Nashua businessman, was left to the city, by his daughter Mabel Chandler, to serve as a branch library to the Nashua Public Library. The house was renovated and dedicated on October 10, 1960, as the Chandler Memorial Library. It served as the library's Children's Room and later as its ethnic center until closing its doors for budgetary reasons in July 2006.Present location
In 1971, the library moved to its present location, a building at 2 Court Street. Funding for the library was provided by a gift from Eliot A. Carter, a local industrialist. The architect of the building was his son, John A. Carter. The dedication ceremony took place on September 26, 1971.In 1995 the library expanded into previously unfinished space and opened the Music/Art/Media Wing. In 2017 that space was renovated, creating seven community meeting rooms, and renamed the Chandler Memorial Wing.
Publications
- In 1978, the Nashua Public Library published The Nashua Experience: History in the Making, 1673-1978, A Definitive History of the City.
- A sequel to this publication,The Nashua Experience: A Three-Decade Upgrade, 1978-2008, written by NPL librarians, was published in 2009.
Library services
Circulation
The Nashua Public Library has an extensive holding of books and other materials, including fiction and nonfiction books, large print books, magazines, newspapers, language learning materials, audiobooks on CD and MP3 CD, music CDs, DVDs, video games, ukuleles, and a telescope. The foreign language collection contains books in eight languages, including French, Spanish German, Lithuanian, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, and Hindi.Downloadable audiobooks and Ebooks are available for cardholders through the NH Downloadable Book Consortium website. These can be “checked out” and downloaded to a personal computer, MP3 player, smartphone or other device. Patrons also have access to museum passes to several local and Boston-area museums, zoos, and other cultural attractions. Throughout the year, a variety of films, concerts, and lectures are offered in the library.
Nashua residents, employees, and students can apply for a free library card at the circulation desk. Those who own property in Nashua, or who are retired from work in Nashua, can also apply for a free card. Anyone can search for materials in the online catalog. Cardholders can access their accounts online to reserve and renew items. Cardholders can also log in to compile a list of the library materials they may be interested in checking out in the future.