April Vacation Specials 2024

Join unique programs for kids and families all week long!


UNH SeaTrek: Squid Dissection

Tuesday, April 23rd – 10 & 11am

Get to know the unique anatomy of the squid with this hands-on lesson from UNH! First learn about the different parts of the squid’s body, then examine them for yourself with a guided dissection. This event will be held in two sessions: One at 10am and one at 11am.

This program is currently full. Thank you for your interest!


For the Love of Legos

Thursday, April 25th – 10am

For the Love of LEGOs is a drop-in time for children of any age to play with the library’s lego collection. Build whatever you can imagine, on your own or with others; the only limits are your imagination!


Charlotte’s Web Book Party

Friday, April 26th – 10am

Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s book that’s been delighting readers for more than fifty years, and this book party is the perfect chance to celebrate it! To join in, pick up a copy at the front desk or read your own with your children. Then come in on Friday to talk about the book and its beloved characters, play games, and enjoy snacks!

We request that those planning to attend contact the library to sign up, to make sure we have enough snacks for everyone.


Turtles of NH

Saturday, April 27th – 12pm noon

New Hampshire is home to seven native species of turtle and more than half of them are listed as endangered or threatened in the state. Some even live in Nottingham! Join local wildlife rehabilitators Dallas and Drew of New Hampshire Turtle Rescue to learn more about our native species, meet a special turtle guest, and learn how we can be good neighbors to them. Afterwards, stick around as they answer any of your turtle questions!

Growing a Healing Garden

Thursday, April 11th — 6pm

Long before gardens became aesthetic features, plants were cultivated for their medicinal value. This presentation showcases a potpourri of easy to grow medicinal herbs and showcasing a variety of garden designs to help you grow your own first aid kit. This event is hosted by Willa Coroka of The Magpie’s Apprentice.

Sign-ups are required for this program. Please call, email, or visit the library to register.

Button-Making with BML

Thursday, April 11th — 3:30 – 5:30pm

Do you like to get crafty and make new things? Try your hand at making a pin-back button and get to know BML’s new button machine with this hands-on learning session! Learn how the machine works, make your own buttons, and hear more about how you can return and do it yourself in the future! This is an informal program–it’s easy to learn, and you may drop in at any time between 3:30 and 5:30 to participate.

Button-making is open to all ages, but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult for safety. The button-maker will be available for public use in the future!

Community Coffee Hour Special: Bobcats

Wednesday, April 10th — 10am

The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game joins BML for a special coffee hour presentation about one of the state’s wild symbols: the bobcat. Learn about the natural history of the elusive cat, its habitat needs and the status of the population. Also, hear about the ongoing research projects that help study and protect this country’s abundant wildlife!

Blaisdell Memorial Library 50th & National Library Week

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!

Sourdough Baking Demonstration

Thursday, February 8th at 6pm

Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Pexels.com

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

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.

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

Wednesday, January 17th @ 6:30pm

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

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.

Craft Together: Holiday Cardmaking

Wednesday, December 16th at 6pm

Photo by KoolShooters on Pexels.com

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.

NH Humanities October Specials

The Old Man: His Life and Legacy – Please join us on Wednesday, October 4th at 6 pm as we host Inez McDermott. Inez will tell the story of the Old Man and will discuss how it impacted the region. Participants will also be encouraged to share their own stories and experiences.

Maple, New Hampshire’s Medicine of Connection – Damian Costello joins us for our second October special on Wednesday, October 25 at 6pm. Damian shares how maple sugaring is our communal medicine of connection.