'This is a wonderful place': Moultonborough library head awarded state Director of Year

MOULTONBOROUGH — Library Director Brittany Durgin has been leading the charge for the past 2.5 years, helping bring in vital grant money and working on the first-ever strategic plan. Her hard work in the day-to-day functions and behind the scenes has not gone unnoticed, as she's been named the 2025 Library Director of the Year by the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association.

“I am honored to receive this recognition,” Durgin said. “I have worked in New Hampshire libraries for 10 years, and I know there are a lot of outstanding directors out there.”

The award was presented to Durgin by Ann Xavier, the director of the Trustees Association and also the Center Harbor Library Trustees. She was elated to hand over the award to a director in her neighboring community. Durgin was surrounded by family, friends, town leaders and library trustees on Oct. 8 during the ceremony.

“Brittany does an excellent job for our library and for our town,” said Town Administrator Angela Bovill. “Good collaboration and well deserving.”

Moultonborough library Trustee Chair John Buckley called Durgin, “a great leader,” who has expanded services at the library, connected the community, and improved staff development and morale.

He said a major contribution to the library was leading the task force for a new website, as well as helping bring in $40,000 worth of grants to improve the building. Notably, the funds went toward maintenance and a new HVAC system.

Buckley said it is particularly impressive she won the award, chosen over other directors in larger communities cities and towns from across the Granite State.

“Brittany really established herself in the two-and-a-half years she has been here, and we are very proud of her and the accomplishment,” Buckley said.

Trustee Jack Weekes called her, “empathetic, very approachable, and loves getting input and acting on it.

“She has fostered outstanding morale with the staff, and is often working the front desk,” Weekes said. “Brittany has a great presence with our patrons, and made a great impression with the community.”

Durgin has been the director of the Moultonborough library since 2023, and before that she was director of the Minot-Sleeper Library in Bristol, and the adult services librarian at the Hooksett Library.

She's proud of updating the HVAC in Moultonborough, enhancing program access, bringing in a best-selling author, and gathering feedback to build the library’s first strategic plan.

She said she wouldn’t be able to do the job without the support of the community. When Durgin interviewed for the job, she said the trustees and staff were the two groups which made her think it was the right fit.

“They have proven that it really is, and I love being here,” Durgin said.

Durgin thanked those working in town, as well as the patrons who were in attendance supporting her, as they always have.

“The patrons really are what makes the day to day so much fun to be a library director and work in a library,” Durgin said. “This is a wonderful place. I feel it is the right fit for me. I’m glad you are all happy to have me here."

Durgin said libraries are vital to our communities. She noted they are always changing, and the more support they have, they will be able to continue to be a “wonderful forum for exchange of ideas and a great place for the community to gather.”

She reflected on her time there, and recalled a bereavement group meeting where people were coming in with their eyes teary. By week two or three, they were standing up taller and smiling.

“There are things like that, that are so powerful, and it is a reminder of what public libraries can do for the community,” Durgin said. “Being the director, you’re not always on the front lines, but you get to support those magical moments. There are so many of them.”

Durgin said one adult services librarian helps people with technology. A staff member helps with notarizing documents, and assists people when they just don’t know exactly what to do. She also said it is great seeing children come in and learn early literacy.

“The public library is really the one place where you can connect with other young families,” she said. “That is one of the most powerful things about public libraries. It’s a place where we can all come together when so much of our lives are digital. We find at the front desk that people are interested in talking and engaging in conversations.”

Durgin found out she won the award at the September meeting of the Board of Trustees, and said she was absolutely surprised. She said initially when she saw all the staff coming into the meeting, she thought there was an issue to tend to, so she jumped to the occasion. Then Weekes made a speech about what makes a library work well, noting it's all about the staff, with the director at the center.

“I have found that the director succeeds when you have the support of the community, the trustees, and the staff,” she said. “We are fortunate to have all three. The staff really makes the magic happen here. Being able to support them and their wonderful ideas really makes this job a joy.”