Meredith Public Library recognized as community gem

MEREDITH — Books are essential to a community because they bring the outside world to readers and cultivate learning. When George Sanborn circulated books from his house to Meredith residents in the late 1800s, it was the first effort to create a library in the town. Sanborn saw his self-made library was popular, and he began to speak with businesspeople in Meredith about building a permanent library. Things moved forward, and the library was completed in 1901.

“The goal of the library was to make books accessible to everyone,” said Meredith Public Library director Erin Apostolos. Everyone included factory workers who were employed in area mills. Entertainment was limited at the time and access to books was thought to be enriching for all classes of society.

Apostolos said, “We still promote literacy, and our mission is to be Meredith’s cultural center. We promote library events for the public, such as the Lake Center for the Arts, a group that brings artists to the library. They teach classes and show their work, and their programs are popular. Other programs cater to a variety of patrons, such as those that bring children to the library for after-school activities.”

The programs and focus on attracting readers of all ages have won the Meredith Public Library a large patron group and a prestigious Small Library of the Year award in November 2024 from the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association.

A library must show how it connects with the community to apply for the award. Apostolos could easily outline the many programs and events at the Meredith Public Library. She said, “We have over 100 Friends of the Library, and they are very active. They maintain the library garden, sponsor events and provide museum passes, and fund our

ancestry.com access, among other things. The Community Garden Club of Meredith maintains some flowers on the exterior of the building and also donated a tree, and the Greater Meredith Program designed a three-tier garden. The Meredith Rotary donated generously to our building program. Many people in Meredith get involved with the library in a variety of ways.”

The Friends of the Library ranks high on the list of volunteers with Apostolos. She enthuses over all the group does, such as running an ongoing bookstore in the basement of the building. The group also sells books at antique shops and online, and it organizes and runs a book sale three times a year. The next book sale will be June 26-28.

“People love the book sales,” said Apostolos. The books for sale are those weeded from the library’s collection, as well as donations of books.

Currently the Meredith Public Library has five full-time and five part-time staff, with Apostolos serving as director. She has been in the position for 17 years and said she loves her job, working to bring the community into the library.

“As the director, I am in charge of the budget, the staff, building maintenance, outreach, fundraising, and grant writing; really, the job is a bit of everything,” she said.

Originally from Reading, Massachusetts, Apostolos has a bachelor’s degree from Salem State College and a master of library and information science degree from Simmons College Graduate Studies. She was head of youth services at the Peabody Institute Library in Massachusetts and library media specialist at McKeown Elementary School, among other positions in her career.

Plans to improve the Meredith Public Library are always in the works, and Apostolos said a big change is in the teen room. The renovation includes a glassed-off area, new shelving, and a space that will allow for more events.

She said, “The board of trustees recently completed a strategic plan with 10 goals for the next five years. It is based on community feedback and includes investing in staff development and support, working on goals for the staff, being open more hours, the possibility of more outdoor spaces, preserving and celebrating local heritage, digitizing materials, and strengthening library visibility in other ways.”

The board is also discussing the idea of starting a “library of things,” which includes items patrons can take out that might be needed just a few times, such as a specific tool or kitchen equipment.

Because she is aware some smaller towns do not have their own libraries, Apostolos hopes all communities will eventually have libraries, with enthusiastic resident support, such as in Meredith.

“I love the community, the library, and the staff. I plan on being here for quite a while,” Apostolos said.

The Meredith Public Library is located at 91 Main St. Call 603-279-4303 or visit meredithlibrary.org.