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.

STORIES FOR THE SEASON

The Winter Solstice is nearly on us, in a few days on December twenty-first. Here in New England  it's getting dark at around 4:00 pm, or at least so dark that lights on cars and in rooms are called for.

For many, the short days of Winter are difficult. Not enough endorphins. Too much unknown  lurking in the surrounding darkness maybe.Of course, it's cold as well and the cold and dark night could trigger all kinds of fear.

I like this time. The long night emphasizes the warmth of my own cozy house. The fire in the hearth (as likely real as figurative)  The cold and, if we're lucky snow, preclude travel. The sense of isolation this brings is more like an old quilt taken from the cupboard in my childhood home than it is something to fret over, to be afraid of.

This is a time I like to read with some 'cool' jazz music in the background. Whatever pressing tasks are on the list just have to wait. Nothing I can do about them now.

Short stories are a favorite form of literature for me. One book can be like a box of mixed chocolates, except that if a small bite of one does not please me today, I can return it to its place and select another.

There are a lot of stories for the end of the year. I'm of the Christian tradtion, and so my end of year stories tend in that direction.  Sentimental, funny, uplifting: these stories can take me back the seventy-off years to  a fondly remembered home town (that, in remembrance, was never as in actuality. But, still....).

Although this is not the way things went in my largely unreading childhood,  I have a romantic vision of how it could have been. Reading together, as a family, is part of that vision.

With this in mind, I have gathered together some stories that I think you might like to read. Please follow the links and enjoy! Please let me know if you would like to share one of your stories and I will distribute it.

 Light returns with the Solstice,and with it another kind of joy. But, for  now, enjoy this peaceful time.


The first story, a poem actually, is,simply stated, obligatory for this season! Twas the Night Before Christmas

The Winter Spirit and His Visitor is a Cherokee tale of the Winter Solstice


The Christmas Masquerade is the tale of an ill-conceived chamber of commerce Christmas party that goes really wrong!

The Boy With the Box and Little Piccola are uplifting stories of  kids at Christmas.

L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz, describes a kidnapping: Of Santa no less!

The Tailor of Goucester is a classical tell of mice and men by Beatrix Potter
Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking, by O. Henry, is a funny story of a Hobo  who doesn't want his just rewards for doing good.

Christmas Eve in War Time is an admittedly maudlin story from the period of the Civil War, but, wuss that I am, it brought tears to my jaded old eyes.