Portsmouth Public Library (New Hampshire)

Infobox_Library
library_name = Portsmouth Public Library
library_
location = Portsmouth, NH
established = 1896
num_branches =
collection size = 128,000+
annual_circulation = ~375,000
pop_served = ~20,600
members = ~14,000
budget =
director = Mary Ann List
num_employees =
website = http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library

Portsmouth Public Library is a library in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Established in 1896, the library's mission is to provide popular media materials to the public as well as to supply information and access to reference works. It also does community outreach, attempting to provide services and material to foster an appreciation for reading and learning in youth as well as offering activities engineered to appeal to older demographics. [Citation
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title = Portsmouth Public Library: About Us
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url = http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/about-mission.htm
accessdate = 06/18/08.]

Services

The Library is open 6 days a week, from 9-9 Monday through Thursday, 9-5:30 Friday, and 9-5 on Saturday. It hosts computer stations with a variety of applications and library databases, as well as internet access. The building and its immediate grounds provide wireless access as well. It also provides printing and copying services.

The library, which is handicapped-accessible, contains three larger meeting rooms available to the public as well as three smaller study/conference rooms on the premises. It has seating areas scattered throughout. The library includes a cafe.

Facilities

The new library, an $8 million dollar construction project formally dedicated in January of 2008, has Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. [http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/Library/leed.htm New Portsmouth Library Named NH’s First LEED-Certified Municipal Building] cityofportsmouth.com Retrieved 2008-06-27.] It is the first municipal building in New Hampshire and among the first public buildings in New England so certified. According to the Portsmouth City website, the library scored "high marks in the areas of energy conversation, recycling, building material|materials selection, and |daylight and views.

Special Collections room

The library's Special Collections room focuses on primary and secondary source reference materials related to Portsmouth, but also includes material on Rockingham County, Stafford County and, in Maine, York County. Among the collections are such documents as vital records, maps and historical newspapers. [Citation
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title = Portsmouth Public Library: History
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url = http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/history.htm
accessdate = 06/18/08.]

The library also includes several unique collections, including:
*Henry Clay Barnabee Collection: Material belonging to or related to actor and singer Henry Clay Barnabee (1833-1917).
*World War II Records: Documents of historical interest compiled by the Portsmouth War Records Committee during WWII.
*Art Collections: Including but not limited to watercolors by Sarah Haven Foster (1827-1900), drawings by Helen Pearson (1871-1949), works by Susan Ricker Knox (~1875-1959) and paintings by Russell Cheney (1881-1945).

References