September News from the Library

Library Newsletter

September 2026

Monday 10 AM to 5 PM

Tuesday 10 AM to 8 PM

Wednesday 12 PM to 7 PM

Thursday 10 AM to 7 PM

Friday 10 AM to 5 PM

Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM

To remedy a technology error which caused an incomplete recording of the first event, the Library is hosting a second Stone School "Memory Library" on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 PM. We invite everyone who came the first time, as well as those who wanted to come but couldn't, to share memories of attending the Stone School and ask questions of attendees. This will be a recap of the first event and add some new questions. We will also give an update on the progress of our Memory Preservation Kits project. Light refreshments will be served.

Our postponed Oshibana program is rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6 PM. This program is for adults and requires registration at the library.

Help Yourself!

Copies of 2026 NH Organic Farm & Food Guide are available for free at the library (pictured here with flowers from Julie Perussee. Thank you, Julie!) September BookPages are also here, along with copies of the 2026 HarbourGuide, a guide to the NH Seacoast from the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. Finally, we have some free apples from our generous neighbors across the street, while supplies last. All available at the library!

The Library Book Group resumes after the summer break on Friday, September 18 at 10:30 AM to discuss To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Copies are available to check out at the library or on Libby or Hoopla. All are welcome to attend and breakfast pastries will be provided. Have a suggestion for a great read? Email director@langdonlibrary.org

In June, we discussed The Reading List which was mostly enjoyed. It sparked the desire to read or reread some of the books on the "list" including September's book!

Plant a Seed, Read! Summer Reading Recap

Thank you to everyone who participated this summer. Special thanks to our sponsors Beswick Engineering and Hauch Storage, and donors, Stoneface Brewing, Kilwins, The Music Hall, Monkey Mind Escape Room, Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, G. Willikers, Squam Lake Science Center, Hilltop Fun Center, Diversions, and, new this year, Great Wolf Lodge. In addition, thank you to Newington Police and Fire Departments for doing Story Times at the library, Jack O’Reilly for ordering and picking up sandwiches and beverages for the Finale Party. And to the 80 readers who tracked their reading and attended events at the library—thank you for a wonderful summer of memories!

Did you know that since 2020, our Library has been a water test site for the City of Portsmouth Water Division? Twice a month, technicians visit the library to run tests on our water. The 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality report for the Portsmouth and Pease Tradeport Water Systems is now available:

https://www.portsmouthnh.gov/publicworks/water/drinking-water-quality

This report summarizes the results of drinking water testing performed from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

Featured Books: Recommended & Relevant

To celebrate the 250th birthday of the US, we held a "How the Constitution Helps us Disagree" event with Meg Mott. She helped us grapple with questions about the value of Force vs. Friendship as a method of creating policy and "getting things done," as well as unpack the ideologies between conservative, progressive and libertarian perspectives. What we learned was we all have more in common than you'd think, and that everyone benefits from policies informed by different perspectives. Meg quoted from this book several times and recommended it.

[The Constitution] works to establish a framework for contestation that keeps minorities safe, keeps majorities responsible, and allows for some production of the common--for forging genuine unity through unending engagement."

--Yuval Levin, American Covenant (2024)

Sam from Seacoast Foodscapes visited us this summer to talk about the benefits of backyard gardening. Did you know that time spent in nature can alleviate ADHD symptoms in both children and adults? Even a view of green through a window can help, though outdoor activities in trees and grass are the most beneficial. Food grown at home also has much higher nutritional value since phytonutrients degrade during time and temperature spent in transit. These books were recommended during the program and are now available at the library.

See you at the library!

Lara, Theresa, Brittany, Deb and Debbra

(603)-436-5154 | info@langdonlibrary.org] | www.langdonlibrary.org