Upcoming Events
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Join us every Friday at 10 am for our Family Playgroup, hosted by Monadnock Family Services. For families with children ages 0-5.
Join us at the library on Wednesday, May 21st at 6pm for a program on Persis Foster Eames Albee, mother of the California Perfume Company and the first Avon lady, by Winchester Historical Society's Curator, Jennifer Riedell. All are welcome!
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Join us for our monthly Craft Night on Wednesday, May 28th at 6pm, when we will be making botanical tie-dye using a technique called "Hapa Zome." Supplies are limited and sign-up in advance is encouraged. Adults & teens of all interest and ability levels are welcome.
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Join us for conversation and refreshments on Wednesday, June 4th at 6pm for the meeting of our book club, Coffee with the Classics, as we discuss We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Copies are available to check out at Conant and Richmond libraries. All are welcome!
The time is nearly upon us! "Summer Reading 2025: Treasure Hunt!" will be taking place from the end of June through the beginning of August. Reading, crafts, scavenger hunts, live animal shows, and more await you this summer. Participation in any and all events is free and open to to the public. We hope to see you there!
Check Out Our March Book Display!
A Tour of Literary New England: Everything You Need for Your Next Great Roadtrip
Some of our favorites:
A Summer of Hummingbirds: Love, Art and Scandal in the Intersecting Worlds of Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, & Martin Johnson Heade by Christopher Benfey
On Writing by Stephen King
When Things Get Dark: Stories Inspired by Shirley Jackson edited by Ellen Datlow
Conant Public Library Historical Museum Online Catalog Launch, March 15!
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Click the link to visit our online catalog: https://hub.catalogit.app/15446
We are proud to announce the launch of Conant Public Library Historical Museum’s digital collection! Our collection comprises a variety of artifacts and records helping to preserve the rich history of Winchester, New Hampshire and the surrounding areas. It includes the collection of the Washington Library Association (Winchester’s first library), government and business records, newspapers and other local publications, photographs, one of the earliest pipe organs constructed in New England (built by Winchester’s own Henry Pratt), and so much more.
The Conant Pubic Library Historical Museum (CPLHM) first opened in 1975, when the two front rooms on the library’s second floor were renovated to create a Historical Department. For the next 30 years, CPLHM was accessible to the public one day a week as a way to learn more about their history and heritage through exhibitions, programs, and a sizable library of genealogical and historical materials.
The museum closed its doors to undergo renovation and has remained closed since, preventing patrons from accessing the wealth of historical resources held in its collection. Since 2023, we have been working to reopen the museum, and are proud to announce the launch of our online database, granting the public access to our historical collection as we continue to work towards reopening the museum space for exhibitions, programs, and public enjoyment.
If you would like more information on an object in the online catalog, or would like to make an appointment to view an object in person, we encourage you to get in contact with us!
Historical Collection Events
Three New Historical Exhibits on Display!
Our special exhibits Hosea Ballou and the Winchester Profession: How Winchester and Richmond Shaped Early Universalism, From Washington Library: Selections from Winchester's First Library, and Remembering Thayer High School feature items from the Library’s historical collection. Artifacts on display date from 1829 to 1992 and offer a window into Winchester’s history.
The exhibits opened at the Winchester Pickle Festival on September 28, 2024, and will remain on display during the library’s regular hours. Stop by and learn about town history!
The Carole Silver Children's Collection Spotlight
The Works of Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire were authors and illustrators of numerous children's books. Active from 1931 to 1976, their work was influential in shaping the Golden Age of Children's Literature (ca. 1950-1999). Their work received the Caldecott medal, the Catholic Library Association Regina Medal, and the Boy's Club award, and was nominated for the National Book Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. While many of their joint works remain in print, they are best-known for d'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths (1962) which remains the most well-respected and definitive children's collection of Ancient Greek Mythology. D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths was selected as part of the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books and NPR's 100 Must-Reads for Kids 9-14. This first edition volume retains its original dust jacket and contains original stone lithography illustrations in color and black-and-white. Volumes of D'Aulaire's Norse Gods and Giants (1st ed., 1967) and D'Aulaire's Trolls (3rd ed., 1972) are also part of the Carole Silver Children's Collection. Stop by the library to view all three of these unique volumes.