About Us
The New Hampshire State Library is the oldest in the Nation.
Part of the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the N.H. State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire.
Mission Statement
The mission of the New Hampshire State Library is to:
- Promote excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshirites;
- Assist libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system;
- Meet the informational needs of New Hampshire state, county, and municipal governments and its libraries; and
- Serve as a resource center on New Hampshire.
Location
20 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301
Hours
M-F 8 AM-4:30 PM or by appointment. Call 603-271-2144 to make an appointment.
Parking
Metered parking is available on the street. There is accessible parking by the side entrance. Anyone with a walking disability plate or placard may park for free in any legal parking spot (RSA 261:88).
Additional Information
To date, twenty-four different people have served as New Hampshire State Librarian. The position is appointed by the Governor and the authority and responsibilities of the State Librarian are defined in RSA 201-A.
The present state library building was built in 1895 of native granite. It is part of the complex of buildings that make up the center of State government in Concord, NH. Flanked by lilac shrubs, the building bears the name of the state in Latin on its facade. Aptly titled, it serves all branches of State government as well as all residents of and visitors to the state.
In January 1717, New Hampshire’s 27th General Assembly met in Portsmouth, passing several orders and resolves. On the 25th of that month, it declared that:
“Law books be distributed among ye severall towns of this Province in proportion according to their last Prov : tax, except two books wch shall be for ye Govr & Councill & house of representatives.”
Those books were the beginning of the New Hampshire State Library.
