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Blaisdell Memorial Library 50th & National Library Week

Published on March 22, 2024March 27, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Watercolor art by Mary Beeman

April 9th through April 13th

Two big celebrations, one event-packed week!

Blaisdell Memorial Library came to be in 1974, and in 1999 the building was renovated into the library we know and love today. To recognize the 50th and 25th anniversaries and National Library Week at the same time, BML is holding special events and hosting historical displays all week long!

Inside the library, we’ll have displays showing off the past of BML and Nottingham’s public libraries, some special take-home treats, and a board displaying our patron’s memories of their times in the library. You can contribute to the fun by visiting this link and filling out the form!

On Tuesday, kids can drop in to decorate cupcakes for a tasty bit of creative fun.

Wednesday, join us for a special Community Coffee Hour and learn about the incredible Bobcats of the state, hosted by new Hampshire Fish and Game.

Thursday, visit in the afternoon to get hands-on with the library’s new button-maker and learn how to use it before it’s available to the public.

And finally, Thursday night, sign up to join a presentation on Growing a Healing Garden, as part of the Cookbook Club’s open events!

There’s plenty to see and do, so make sure to swing by and find your favorite way to celebrate!

February Break Specials

Published on February 23, 2024March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Feb. 27th through Mar. 1st

A photo of the exterior of the Blaisdell Memorial Library. It is snowing, and a later of fluffy snow already covers the tree and the ground.

Make your February Break something special with programs for children and families all week long! Come in, warm up, stay dry, meet with your friends, and fill up your bags with books to entertain til regular story hours return!

Tuesday, February 27th @ 10am: UNH SeaTrek – Lobsters

UNH returns to BML with a fascinating exploration of lobsters and lobster fishing that can teach you both about their anatomy and biology and how we can conserve them for years in the future!

Registration for this program is currently full. Thank you for all your interest!

Thursday, February 29th @ 10am: Lego for Littles

Lego for Littles is a drop-in time for younger children to play and build alone or together with the library’s Lego collection. The only limits are your own imagination!

Friday, March 1st @ 10am: Dr. Seuss Birthday Storytime Extravaganza

Celebrate Dr. Seuss and all his wonderful, wild worlds and stories with a special storytime! We will be reading some of his books and enjoying Seuss-themed activities while eating birthday treats!

UNH SeaTrek: Lobsters

Published on February 9, 2024March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Tuesday, February 27th at 10am

UNH’s SeaTrek program returns to BML! Lobsters are icons of New England and fascinating creatures in their own right. Participants will get to examine lobster traps, handle a live lobster and learn how lobstermen measure and band lobsters for the market! They’ll also have the chance to consider the delicate balance between protecting the lobster species, providing a livelihood for lobstermen and ensuring that we continue to enjoy this delicacy from the sea.

This program is aimed at children around elementary school age, but older or younger kids may attend.

Sign-ups are required. To reserve a place, please contact the library!

Sourdough Baking Demonstration

Published on January 25, 2024March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Thursday, February 8th at 6pm

With a distinct flavor and incredible versatility, sourdough has become a rising star in the world of baking. Learn about its rich history and the many ways to use it at home with a demonstration by Adrienne Pasquale of Titus 2 Breads. Get a sample of your own dried starter and learn how to care for it, as well as how to use it in a simple bread.

Having fun with sourdough? Ask about BML’s Cookbook Group to put your new skills into practice!

Sign-ups for this program are now full. If you would like to be added to our waitlist, please call or email to do so!

Craft Together: Valentine’s Cardmaking

Published on January 25, 2024March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Wednesday, February 7th at 3pm

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by creating a one-of-a-kind card to give to your loved one! Choose a palette of beautiful paint colors to create a marbled paper base, then mix and match details for a valentine all your own!

There is no charge for this event and sign-ups are required. Please call, email, or visit the library to register.

A photo of author Michael Cameron Ward, a black man.

Author Talk: The Colored Folks Ain’t Gonna Make It with Michael Cameron Ward

Published on January 3, 2024March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Wednesday, January 17th @ 6:30pm

Local author Michael Cameron Ward’s books, A Colored Man in Exeter and The Colored Folks Ain’t Gonna Make It are biographical portraits of life as a black man living in New Hampshire. In this presentation, he discusses the state’s past and present history with race and his experiences growing up in the area.

More about Michael Cameron Ward and his books can be found at his website.

January 2024 STEAM & LEGO + Club Sign-up

Published on December 27, 2023March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Sign-ups open from 12/27 to 1/3

The first children’s session of 2024 will begin on January 9th and run until February 17th. Due to high interest and limited space, Blaisdell Memorial Library uses a lottery system for participation in our afterschool clubs.

Participants who are not chosen for this session will have their names added to the waitlist. In this session and future ones, wait-listed participants may have priority sign-ups.

STEAM Club (Grades 3-6) is held every Tuesday at 3pm. LEGO+ Club (Grades K-2) is held every Thursday at 3pm. For more information, please contact the library front desk.

Polar Express Story Special

Published on November 29, 2023March 22, 2024 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Photo by Hunt on Photos Studio on Pexels.com

Our annual Polar Express Storytime returns once more on Wednesday, December 6th, 6pm!

Put on your warmest jammies, pack your stuffy friends, and stay up late for a very special trip to the North Pole! Boarding starts with a train ticket for every child and plenty of special hot chocolate and cookies to go around. Afterwards comes the star of the night: reading the classic Christmas story, The Polar Express.

Sign-ups for the Polar Express Storytime are currently full. Call or email the library to add your name to the waitlist.

This event has a rain date of Thursday, December 7th, 6pm.

Craft Together: Holiday Cardmaking

Published on November 22, 2023November 29, 2023 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Wednesday, December 16th at 6pm

Celebrate the season and the holidays with hand-made custom greeting cards! Mix and match paper and techniques and use stamping, embossing, paper cutouts and other decorations to create cards all your own.

There is no charge for this event and sign-ups are required. Please call, email, or visit the library to register.

STEAM & LEGO + Club Sign-up

Published on October 12, 2023 by blaisdellmlLeave a comment

Sign-ups open from 10/17 to 10/21

The final children’s session of 2023 will begin on October 31st and run until December 15th. Due to high interest and limited space, Blaisdell Memorial Library will be using a lottery system for participation in this session’s afterschool clubs.

During the sign-up period, families who call the library will enter into a pool of interested participants. At the end of the sign-up period, we will draw from that pool to determine the session’s club members. We hope that this new system will give more time for families to make plans and contact the library without the risk of slots filling up immediately.

Participants who are not chosen for this session will have their names added to the waitlist. In this session and future ones, wait-listed participants may have priority sign-ups.

STEAM Club (Grades 3-6) is held every Tuesday at 3pm. LEGO+ Club (Grades K-2) is held every Thursday at 3pm. For more information, please contact the library front desk.