Welcome to Summer 2026!
We invite you to dig into a good book, uncover hidden histories, and go on a great adventure through literature– no matter your age! From June 19th to August 14th, patrons will be awarded a raffle ticket for every 50 pages they read! These raffle tickets will then be placed in an end-of-summer prize box of your choosing, with winners being announced on August 17th at noon! Audiobooks, graphic novels, magazines, and newspapers count (just refer to Goodreads for a title’s page count).
This page will be your go-to guide for all things Summer Reading including programs, reading logs, prizes, and more!
Summer Reading Program: Reading Logs, Pamphlets, and Prizes
Here at NHPL, we are immensely grateful for all the amazing folks and companies that helped us sponsor Summer Reading Program this year!
Please click on any of the logos below to learn more about the amazing people and places that donated!
Unearth Your Talent Coloring Contest
Patrons are encouraged to let their imagination run wild and submit a beautiful artistic creation for a chance to win a $50 gift card from Water Street Bookstore.
In addition to hanging submitted art in the Program Room, we will hold an art reception where winners will be announced, gift cards awarded, and light refreshments served! We encourage all artists and patrons to join us at the reception to enjoy the community’s art!!
Coloring Contest Dates: Monday, June 1, 2026 to Friday, August 14th, 2026
Reception Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Flying High Dogs with Mike Piazza
Join Mike Piazza and his Border Collies for an afternoon of high flying fun! Mike and his team entertain audiences of all ages with a variety of captivating tricks, with an opportunity for audience participation.
Registration for this event is required! Please fill out the form HERE and remember to leave your furry friends at home!
Event Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM
Event Location: North Hampton School | 201 Atlantic Avenue, North Hampton, NH 03862
Redcoats and Rebels: New Hampshire in the American Revolution
New Hampshire often gets overlooked in the narrative of the American Revolution, overshadowed by its noisy neighbor to the south. Nowadays, few people know about Paul Revere’s first ride, which was to Portsmouth in December 1774, five months before the Redcoats marched on Concord and Lexington. Nor do they know that two-thirds of the troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill were from New Hampshire….
…And this is just the beginning of New Hampshire’s revolutionary story.
Event Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
All Ages Summer Reading Kick-Off
Celebrate the start of our “Unearth A Story” summer reading program with us on the patio (or in the Program Room if it is rainy)! We welcome everyone to grab a reading log, play some yard and board games, make some collage buttons and bookmarks, and enjoy a delicious Kona Ice! Face-painter Patti will also be joining us!
*This free program is for all ages and requires no registration!*
Event Date: Friday, June 19th, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Reading Raptor Scavenger Hunt
We have a veloci-reader in the stacks! Each Tuesday, adult patrons are tasked with searching the shelves in order to free our Reading Raptor! A rhyming riddle will be released Monday afternoon via social media and starting at opening time the following morning, the hunt is on! Those who find the raptor will win a special prize!
June Reading Raptor Dates: June 23rd & 30th, 2026
July Reading Raptor Dates: July 7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th, 2026
August Reading Raptor Dates: August 4th & 11th, 2026
NHPL Craft Club: Roman Mosaics
Calling all novice and expert crafters! Join us each month as we tackle a unique craft, explore new techniques and mediums, and create a community of like-minded makers!
This event requires no registration and is intended for patrons ages 15+.
Evening Event Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Afternoon Event Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM
Live Free or Dial: A History of Telephones with NH Telephone Museum
The New Hampshire Telephone Museum presents important moments in telephone history including the race to the patent office, the switchboard, party lines, and the undertaker who invented the dial system.
Take a virtual tour around the museum and handle vintage phones including a candlestick, rotary, and liquid telephone.
Learn more about the NH Telephone Museum here.
Event Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
US@250: Big Watch – New Hampshire and the American Revolution
Explore New Hampshire’s role in the American Revolution with local historian Wendy Bergeron Kloc as she examines the attack at Fort William and Mary, the extraordinary roles local men played throughout the war, and the legacy that remains over 250 years later.
*This event is brought to you by a collaboration between NHPL and North Hampton Historical Society*
Event Dates: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Throwback Theater
It’s Throwback Thursday at NHPL! Join us every Thursday from 2:00 to 4:30 PM for a classic “throwback” film.
– 7/2: The Mummy (NR, 1932)
– 7/9: Creature of the Black Lagoon (G, 1954)
– 7/16: The Lost World (NR, 1960)
–7/23: Journey to the Center of the Earth (G, 1959)
–7/30: Secret of the Incas (NR, 1954)
–8/6: Jurassic Park (PG-13, 1993)
–8/13: King Kong (PG, 1976)
Lectures & Libations: Treasures of the Tides
Discover the irresistible allure of beachcombing along New England’s storied coastline, where whispers of 16th-century shipwrecks and pirates still linger in the sand. Historian and folklorist Roxie Zwicker explores what sea glass is, how it forms, and how to successfully find and identify these ocean-worn treasures. Along the way, pick up practical tips and tricks to begin your own beachcombing adventures with a sharper eye and a deeper appreciation for the past.
**For more information and to register, please click HERE**
Event Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Event Location: Throwback Brewery | 7 Hobbs Road, North Hampton NH, 03862
Tangible Histories of Strawbery Banke with Dr. Alexandra Martin
What can archaeology tell us about people who lived in Seacoast NH? From Abenaki fishers, to colonial merchants, to families who came to Portsmouth to work at the Naval Shipyard, the objects they left behind help us connect with everyday people of the past. Presented by Strawbery Banke Archaeologist, Dr. Alexandra Martin, see examples of historic belongings and hear stories of Indigenous people, enslaved Africans, and 20th-century matriarchs whose stories shaped the region we know today.
Event Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Gems and Minerals of the Granite State with SE- NH Mineral Club
Discover New Hampshire’s geologic history with the Southeastern New Hampshire Mineral Club! Join us as we take a peek at the gems and minerals below our feet here in the Granite State and learn about the Seacoast’s history from knowledgeable collectors. Ask questions, handle rocks, and learn about mineralogy and geosciences during this engaging local history presentation!
Learn more about SE-NH Mineral Club here.
Event Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
NHPL Craft Club: Handmade Paper
Calling all novice and expert crafters! Join us each month as we tackle a unique craft, explore new techniques and mediums, and create a community of like-minded makers!
This event requires no registration and is intended for patrons ages 15+.
Evening Event Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Afternoon Event Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM
Digitizing Memories: A Photo and Document Scanning Workshop
Are you looking to preserve your family’s history? Sign up for a one-on-one sessions where NHPL’s staff will teach you how to digitize your photos and documents using our in-house Epson Perfection scanner.
This event is free for all and will begin your journey of conserving your most treasured memories and the physical objects associated with them.
Registration required HERE.
Evening Event Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Afternoon Event Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 from 12:30 to 2:00 PM
