Historic School House Summer Library

About Deering Public Library

The petition to the Senate and House of Representatives in Portsmouth to incorporate a library in Deering was granted on 6 December 1797.

"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in general Court at Portsmouth November 1797 Humbly sheweth [sic], That Robert Alcock Thomas Merrill Thomas Aiken William Forsaith James Sherrier and others their Associates Inhabitants of Deering have purchased a number of Books, for the purpose of a social Library in said Town, but finding it necessary to be Incorporated, in order to realize the advantages thereby Intended, by purchasing books in common, your petitioners therefore pray that they may be Incorporated with such priviledges [sic] as are usually granted in such cases, and they as in duty bound will ever pray
Robert Alcock for himself and Associates"

The Deering Library's Mission is to create a vibrant community center that inspires curiosity, personal growth and opportunities for life-long learning.



To view our policies, agendas and the minutes of trustee meetings please visit the library, or use the link to the Town of Deering website.



Deering Public Library is located in Southwest New Hampshire's glorious Monadnock Region. Deering is a quintessential New England town with a white clapboard church, a town hall at its center and a population of approximately 1800 people. The library is located year round on the second floor of the town hall. Our seasonal school house library is open during the summer.

STORY HOUR IN THE DEERING SCHOOLHOUSE LIBRARY!

WHEN? Every Saturday at 9:30 in the morning

WHERE? The Deering One Room Schoolhouse, just down the hill from Town Hall

 

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten 
“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.”
Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten 
 
The only modification I would make to this powerful statement is that these lessons begin at home, well before our children enter kindergarten. It has always amazed me how little we value our teachers, whether they are the parents who stay at home or the day care providers right on up through our wonderful elementary school teachers. How is it that we manage to recognize their critical importance with such low pay scales? But, that is another subject! Research shows that these early years are absolutely critical in so many ways, including setting a personality, expanding a mind --even setting our dietary preferences and body shape ('eating your veggies' seems to translate to a generally healthy adult physical life whereas a kid who is obese as a young child is seriously disadvantaged as she or he grows to adulthood). We have also come to understand that when a child begins life in a home where there is abundant conversation, reading and personal interaction that child develops a vocabulary that is vastly larger than that of a kid who lives in a home where the TV is the only source of words. 
 
Where does the Deering Public Library fit in? Nothing can replace the experience of a rich home environment for child development. Your library, and Saturday Story Hour, can be a part of that environment, an adjunct to the home, where your kids can interact with others as they listen to a diversity of books and hear a range of voices and experiences -- all in the setting of an early 20th Century one room schoolhouse.  Each week we read a couple of books, talking about them as we go. There are breaks for freshly HOME baked goodies (currently we are on a muffin kick) and juice or milk. Yes, there is even coffee for the adult companions. Have  a book you would like to have read -- or even read yourself? That's great: please do! Come along with your kids. Everybody is welcome to this free-style read-in!

We hope to see you Saturday mornings in our Schoolhouse library, where we will meet as long as the weather (i.e. temperature) allows. When it's too cold to meet there, we'll meet in Town Hall ... but Saturday Story Hour is (hopefully) here to stay! All we need is -- YOUR KIDS (AND YOU)!


Questions? Contact Gary Samuels at samuelspatty@gmail.com or 464-3143