Richards Free Library

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Help Us Decide the 2025 “Books on Tap” Book Club Reads!

Are you ready to help shape the book club lineup for Books on Tap in 2025? We’re excited to invite all our patrons to participate in our “Book Group Bracket” voting event! This is your chance to choose what we’ll be reading at Salt Hill Pub next year. There are three mini sessions planned throughout the year, and you get to vote on the books for each one!

Here’s what’s up for consideration:

  • January-April: Do you want to dive into the epic world of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit? Or would you prefer to indulge in the timeless romance of four Jane Austen novels?
  • May-August: Are memoirs from famous chefs more your style, or would you enjoy exploring classic literature in graphic novel format?
  • September-December: Will it be the sparkly vampires of The Twilight Series, or the thrilling dystopia of The Hunger Games Series?

How to Vote: Voting is easy! Starting November 4th we will be posting the voting brackets (one each week!) for you to cast your vote online or stop by the front desk of the Richards Free Library to have your say. Voting will help us pick the perfect books for each of these sessions. Don’t miss this chance to influence what we’ll be reading and discussing at Salt Hill Pub each month!

Let the best books win!

Update:

The Winner of the January- April bracket was JRR Tolkien!
January 2nd– The Hobbit
February 6th– The Fellowship of the Rings
March 6th– The Two Towers
April 3rd– The Return of the King

The Winner of the May-August bracket was Classic Literature Reimagined as Graphic Novels!
Starting in May, this group will beet at 6pm instead of 5:30pm

May 1st– 1984: The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti
June 5th– The Great Gatsby by Fred Fordham
July 3rd– Moby Dick by David Rodriguez
August 7th– Anne Frank’s Diary by Ari Folman

Outreach Program at the RFL

Do you know of someone who no longer has the ability to come in to the library for temporary reasons (such as an injury), or those who are homebound on a more permanent basis?

With our Outreach Services, you don’t have to come into our building to check out our great materials. You can request to have books, movies, audiobooks, music, puzzles, games, and other items from our Library of Things. Our Outreach Librarian, Janice Brehio, will work with you to check out, drop off, and return your items for you, so that you can still take advantage of our services without coming in!

Janice goes out to make deliveries on Fridays. She is also available to read aloud by appointment, so that large groups can share in the same story. Janice can bring you a form to fill out and apply for access to the Talking Books Program. She would be happy to answer your questions and add you to her delivery route!

You can reach Janice by email at outreach@newport.lib.nh.us or leave her a message at the library (603) 863-3430.

From the Desk of the Director

I am honored and thankful to be appointed the new Library Director at the Richards Free Library in Newport, NH. For the past three years, as Assistant Director, I have worked closely with our amazing staff and patrons, learning so much along the way. When I stepped into the role of Interim Director 4 weeks ago, I was truly humbled by the trust and support from our community, our library staff, and our Board of Trustees. As the new Library Director, I am committed to upholding the high standards of service and excellence for which our library is known.

To our patrons, I want you to know that I am dedicated to you and our community. The Richards Free Library is more than just a place to borrow books; it is a hub of knowledge, creativity, and connection. I will work hard to make sure the library continues to be an important part of our community and that every visitor feels welcome. Thank you for your continued trust and support as we start this new chapter together.

Sally Bernier

Monica Wood to Accept the 2024 Hale Award

The Richards Free Library proudly announces best-selling Maine author, Monica Wood, as the recipient of the 2024 Sarah Josepha Hale Award. 

Monica Wood is an award-winning novelist, memoirist and playwright. Originally from Mexico, Maine, her writing tells character-driven stories about life-changing events. Wood was awarded the 2019 Constance Carlson Prize for contributions to the public humanities in

Maine; and the 2018 Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Distinguished Achievement Award for her contributions to the literary arts.

Her newest novel, “How to Read a Book,” has already secured translation rights in five countries. Her previous novel, the bestselling “The One-in-a-Million Boy,” has been translated into 20 languages in over 30 countries. She is also the author of “When We Were the Kennedys,” a New England bestseller and winner of the May Sarton Memoir Award. Her other fiction, “Any Bitter Thing,” “Ernie’s Ark,” and “My Only Story” have also won awards and made bestseller lists. Her short stories have been widely anthologized and featured

on Public Radio International. Her nonfiction and reviews have appeared in O, the New York Times, Literary Hub, Down East, the San Francisco Chronicle, Martha Stewart Living, Parade and many other publications. She has also written several books for aspiring writers and three plays including “The Half-Light,” “Saint Dad,” and “Papermaker,” that in 2015 debuted in an extended run at Maine’s Portland Stage. She lives in Portland with her husband, Dan Abbott, and their cat, Susie.

Please join us Saturday September 7, 2024 at 7pm at the Newport Opera House for the award ceremony, which will include a speech by Wood as well as book sales and signing. The award ceremony is free and open to the public.

We will once again host a dinner with the author at the Old Courthouse Restaurant on the same evening at 5pm, prior to the ceremony. Dinner tickets are available for purchase at the library.

Unlock the Fun: Join Us for an Exciting Escape Room Adventure at Richards Free Library!

Are you ready for an adventure that will test your wits and teamwork? As part of our Summer Reading Program, Richards Free Library is thrilled to present an all-ages Escape Room experience!

🗝️ What’s an Escape Room?

An Escape Room is an interactive adventure game where you and your team are “locked” in a themed room and have 20 minutes to solve puzzles, find clues, and unlock the door to escape. It’s a fun, brain-bending challenge that requires collaboration, creativity, and a keen eye for detail.

📅 When & Where

  • Location: Richards Free Library
  • Dates: July 29th and 30th
  • Times: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM both days
  • Time Slots: Sign up for your preferred 20-minute time slot.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Can Participate?

  • All Ages Welcome: Whether you’re a child, teenager, or adult, everyone can join in the fun!
  • Group Size: Up to 8 people per session.
  • Little Explorers: Kids under 5 can participate and won’t count towards the 8-person maximum.

🔓 How to Join

  • Sign-Up Required: To ensure everyone gets a chance to experience the escape room, please sign up for a time slot in advance.