Richards Free Library

Engage, Enrich, Entertain

Newport NH

Keep Sarah Warm 2024

This year, we’re inviting our community of knitters to come together once again to create a beautiful scarf for the Sarah Josepha Hale statue in front of the library.

Here’s how you can contribute:

  • Knit a piece measuring 8 inches on one side.
  • Bring your knitted piece to the front desk of the library.
  • Fill out a card with your contact information

If you don’t have your own supplies, don’t worry! There will be knitting needles and yarn on display at the library, generously provided by the library. You can knit your contribution right there. Signs will provide knitting instructions to help you get started.

Need some yarn to get started at home? Stop by the library for a free skein, generously donated by a fellow craft enthusiast.

We will kick off this years “Scarf Season” by celebrating Sarah Josepha Hale’s 236th birthday on October 24th at the RFL! Then it’s time to bring your pieces in and register to be a part of the scarf! A dedicated volunteer will assemble all the contributions into a single, magnificent scarf.

Come and sip some cider at the “Wrap Party” on November 22nd and help wrap the scarf around the Sarah Josepha Hale statue in time to honor her for Thanksgiving. The scarf will remain on display until the first snowfall and will be taken down before the New Year.

When you bring in your contribution, you’ll be asked to fill out a registration form with your contact information. This year we would love to credit contributors with a list that will be displayed next to the scarf! You can also opt to sign up for the library newsletter or express your interest in joining our knitting group.

Let’s come together to celebrate Sarah Josepha Hale and keep her warm this season. Happy knitting!

Exciting News: Join Us for an Evening with Hale Award Winner Monica Wood!

We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Hale Award ceremony will be held on September 7th at the Newport Opera House. This year’s event promises to be extra special, as we honor the talented author Monica Wood.

The ceremony starts at 7 PM and is free and open to the public. We encourage everyone to come and celebrate this remarkable literary achievement.

But wait—there’s more!

Before the ceremony, you have the unique opportunity to join us for the Hale Award Author Dinner at the Old Court House Restaurant. The dinner begins at 5 PM, and this is your chance to enjoy a meal with Monica Wood herself, alongside fellow book lovers and community members.

Tickets for the dinner are on sale now for $50 each. Seats are limited, so don’t wait to secure your spot at the table. To purchase your tickets, please call the Richards Free Library at 603-863-3430.

We look forward to seeing you there for an unforgettable evening of good food, great company, and the celebration of outstanding literary work. Don’t miss out on this special event!

Job Posting: Assistant Director

Assistant Director – Richards Free Library (Newport, NH)

The Richards Free Library of Newport NH seeks a tech savvy, forward-thinking individual with proven management skills in a public library to serve as Assistant Director.

Our library is a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. The building is an 1899 colonial revival mansion that has been on the national registry of historic buildings since 1984. The Board of Trustees for the library consists of 1 elected member and 8 appointed members. Employing 9 staff members, 3 of those full-time, we are open 47 hours weekly.

With 2400 registered patrons in a town with a population of 6300, we enjoy wide community support. Our regular programming includes a robust summer reading program for all ages, after school programs for children and teens, monthly programs for adults, and 6 book clubs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

  • Manages the library and supervises staff in the absence of the library director.
  • Attends department head meetings in the absence of the library director.
  • Conducts staff meetings in the absence of the library director.
  • Runs payroll, pays bills, does bank deposits in the absence of the library director.
  • Assists the library director in formulating the annual budget.
  • Maintains the library’s OPAC.
  • Runs and manages monthly materials reports.
  • Catalogs all adult and children’s materials.
  • Trains and supervises staff and volunteers in processing materials.
  • Assists with adult collection development.
  • Assists with regular weeding of the collection.
  • Plans and manages an annual inventory of the collection.
  • Performs ILL services including training a back-up staff member in those procedures.
  • Oversees marketing and social media.
  • Orders library supplies, office supplies, and janitorial supplies.
  • Performs all duties of the circulation desk including assisting patrons with library needs including quick reference, detailed research, reader’s advisory assistance, explanation of policies and procedures to the public, room scheduling.
  • Troubleshoots computer, printer and other equipment issues.
  • Trains staff in library systems, procedures and policies.
  • Assists with development and coordination of special projects, programs and grant funding.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Be physically able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Skill in the latest computer technology.
  • Ability to adopt and integrate emerging technologies.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills.
  • Comfort with presenting to groups and teaching classes.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, staff of other libraries, and the public.
  • Ability to conduct oneself with tact and courtesy.
  • Have a sense of humor and a commitment to friendly customer service.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as scheduled.
  • Ability to form relationships that give the library a high profile role in the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited institution and three years of professional library work including at least one year of supervisory experience at a public library is required.

Status: Full-time salary exempt

Salary: 45,000-55,000
Closing Date:  September 6, 2024

To Apply: Send resume, cover letter, and three references to director@newport.lib.nh.us

New London Hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment RESULTS Community Conversation

Join us on Tuesday, July 9th at 6 PM at the Richards Free Library for an important New London Hospital Community Health Conversation. This event is an opportunity for you to engage in a meaningful discussion about the results of the Community Health Needs Assessment you participated in this spring.

Your feedback is crucial as New London Hospital begins to develop new programs that address the specific health needs of our community. The library will be providing coffee, so you can enjoy a warm beverage as you share your thoughts. By attending, you can help shape the future of local healthcare and ensure that our community’s voices are heard.

Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to make a difference. We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your insights!

Summer Reading 2024 “Adventure Begins at Your Library” Events Schedule

June 27th 10:30am KICKOFF Family “Adventure Concert” with Miss Julieann Join us for a free family concert and adventure that will be fun for the whole family. Sing along to catchy new songs written and performed by music therapist Julieann Hartley, and come along as we go on an adventure around the library grounds and learn to look at things a little closer.

June 28th 10-12pm Kids’ Craft Button Making: Drop in to make a home-made button pin or two to adventure with this summer!

July 1st thru July 3rd Drop in Scavenger Hunt! Try out our library-themed scavenger hunt any time. Will you find everything we hid?

July 3rd 11am Adventure Family Story time! Pretend to be your favorite animal for this animal-themed story time for ages 0-6.

July 5th 10-4pm LEGO Day at the library! Build an obstacle to add to our LEGO obstacle course!

July 9th 2pm-3:30pm Unicorn and Dragon Party! Join us for stories, crafts, activities and snacks at this party celebrating our imaginations. Wear a costume to be part of our party parade!

July 10th 6pm Fantasy Map Making. Make your own fantasy map with some tips from an expert world builder! Big kids ages 8+, teens, and adults are all welcome to join in!

July 12th 12-4pm Let’s Crazy Craft! Make anything with our craft supplies: Summer Edition!

July 15th 2 pm Design a Hero: Needle Felt or use LEGO to build an adventurer to take home or use next week for Stop Motion!

July 17th 11am Adventure Story Time: Wonder Quest! Join in for an inspiring story time, and then we’ll go on a Quest around the library grounds to find the wonder surrounding us in the world outdoors. What will you find?

July 19th 1-3pm World Record Challenge. Kids and teens are invited to try out these challenges to see how quickly you can do them compared to the world record! It’s all fun and games, but can you get the fastest times?

July 22nd 1-3pm Make Your Own Adventure: Stop Motion Video. We’ll work together to film a stop-motion adventure, or you can learn some tricks to try it out in your own small group. For kids age 6-11 with their families.

July 23rd 2pm Author Visit with Marek Bennett, the beloved graphic novel author-illustrator who so many Newport kids love. Bring the whole family to meet Marek! The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is sponsoring this visit and bringing 2 books for each child that attends. The presentation will be on the library side lawn.

July 24th 11 / 11:30am Fairy Houses! Come for our 11am family storytime, and stay to build nature-safe fairy houses on the library side lawn at 11:30. Items found in nature (fallen bark, sticks, shells) from home are welcome to supplement ours.

July 29th and 30th 2-5pm Library Escape Room: Register online or call to reserve a time slot to try our library-themed Escape Room with your friends or family. Kids under 9 will need at least one adult, please!

July 31st 11am Special Story Time: Bubbles! After a bubbly story time we’ll play with Ms Mo’s famous soap bubbles! Rain: Aug 7

August 2nd 10:30am-12 Navigation Games! Join expert Dawn Dextraze to learn an adventure skill and have a blast at the same time! Dawn is Sullivan county’s Natural Resources Education and Outreach Specialist, and she Knows. Her. Stuff!

August 3rd 10:30 -1:30 Stuffed animal drop-off! Drop off your stuffy for a weekend of epic stuffy adventures. Make your plushie a button pin before you go! See you Monday! (Registration required.) Note: Stuffies sleepover, not kids.

August 5th 1pm Stuffed Animal Tea Time Pick Up Party! Join the stuffies for a tea party in the ballroom, and watch a slideshow of all the adventures the Stuffies had over the weekend at the library!

August 6th 3:30pm Frozen T-Shirt Challenge: Can you wiggle into a frozen-solid t-shirt? Don’t miss this Newport tradition! We’ll round out the fun with other outdoor games.

August 8th 3pm Summer Reading Finale Ice Cream & Tie Dye Party! with ice cream donated by Sanctuary Dairy Farms. Bring something white to tie-dye! Kids, teens, and their families are all invited.