Meredith Public Library plans adult summer reading program

MEREDITH — The Summer 2025 Adult Reading Program at the Meredith Public Library begins on Tuesday, June 24 and lasts for five weeks until Friday, July 25.  

Under the umbrella theme of In Search Of…NH’s Unexplained, the library will host five sessions in June and July covering a range of topics including cryptids, aliens, and more.   

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a cryptid as “a creature that is found in stories and that some people believe exists or say they have seen, but that has never been proven to exist.”  

The program series kicks off with a visit from author Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling.  He will be at the library on Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. to discuss his new book titled “The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science.” Representatives with Innisfree Bookshop will be at the library during the event so attendees can buy their own copy. Space is limited and registration is encouraged.

The second program explores one of the most famous cryptids of all – bigfoot.  On Thursday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m., speaker and NH resident Aleksandar Petakov will share his resentation titled Granite State Bigfoot. While researching the bigfoot/sasquatch topic, Petakov has chronicled over 50 sightings and reports in New Hampshire. He has been a guest on various radio programs and podcasts, as well as spoken at various paranormal/cryptozoological events, public libraries and other venues in New England and across the United States.

On Thursday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m., Tom Witham of the Meredith Historical Society and Chris Leland of the Meredith Public Library will be discussing the Meredith Mystery Stone.  They will talk about what is known about the stone, theories to explain its origin, and detail how the library got involved to create a 3D replica of the stone. 

Also known as The Lake Winnipesaukee Mystery Stone and the New Hampshire Mystery Stone, the egg-shaped stone was found during a simple dig for a fencepost in Meredith in 1872.  It has several carvings including an ear of corn, a face, a teepee, and other designs.

It is considered an “out of place artifact” because it is made of materials not otherwise found in New Hampshire and there is no known explanation of how it came to be located here.

The fourth program takes place on Saturday, July 19, at 11 a.m.  James Lacefield, manager of America’s Stonehenge located in Salem, will visit the library. Lacefield will discuss the mystery behind the history (and the history behind the mystery) of the maze of man-made chambers, walls and ceremonial meeting places located in Salem.

The stone structures are over 4,000 years old, most likely making America’s Stonehenge the oldest man-made construction in the U.S.  Was this site built by a Native American Culture or a migrant European population? No one knows for sure. Like Stonehenge in England, America’s Stonehenge was built by ancient people well versed in astronomy and stone construction. It has been determined that the site is an accurate astronomical calendar. It was, and still can be, used to determine specific solar and lunar events of the year.

Finally, the In Search Of…NH’s Unexplained series concludes on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. with a Zoom session featuring author Matthew Bowman and his new book titled “The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America.” The book examines the infamous Betty and Barney Hill alien abduction incident that took place in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in September 1961.  Innisfree Bookshop will have copies of the book available for purchase.

Library attendees can collect one mysterious picture per week for checking out material or attending any of the programs listed above.  Collecting all five pictures makes entrants eligible for a chance at the grand prize.  Collecting all at least one piece makes entrants eligible for a chance at second or third prize.

For more information, visit meredithlibrary.org.