I just returned here for the first time in 4 years. The remodel is awesome. The space is much more…read moreopen and inviting, they have an activity room for the kids upstairs with the general fiction. The staff was very friendly and helpful too. Overall great experience.

People work here are not super friendly, but it's really a great library. Very big, beautiful and…read moreold building. Huge selection. It's great for relax or study or work here.

An oasis of tranquility, reflection, and exploration. Like visiting the library room in a old…read moreEnglish castle.

Because libraries are important to me and I would like to move to Rindge someday I came to check…read morethe place out and was favorably impressed. As a small town the collection is not large but many of the books are ones I've read and liked. It's always a plus when the librarian has the same tastes as you. The historic building is beautiful and well maintained. There are discrete areas for adults, young adults, children, periodicals, genealogy, etc. It's bigger than it looks from the outside. They are not part of a regional library association as these are rare in New Hampshire, but you can also read e-books through a state system. The librarian was helpful and answered all my questions. Masks are optional and in checking their website periodically have been since the state mandate was lifted, which is vital to me since due to my medical issues I cannot wear them readily. Definitely I would like to retire here. My next mission is to see how well the roads are plowed in the winter so I know if I can move here and commute to work year-round.

Today's "office" was the Brattleboro library. Easy, clean, comfortable…read more I found a nice spot on the upper floor where I was undisturbed for five hours of emails, quiet Zoom meetings and perhaps a few Yelp reviews got cranked out in between here and there. The library is quite modern on the inside despite being in an older and refined building. A large collection of books including the usual fiction, non-fiction, reference and periodicals. Friendly and helpful staff who helped me get settled. And a free wifi that worked very well. Street parking with meters and you're expected to find a different space after two hours. Okay, I did that. [Review 18442 overall - 42 in Vermont - 1964 of 2022.]

Thanks Jerry. My experience there was really unfortunate. I recieved a threatening notice that…read moreVermont law allowed for a fine of up to $400. for a book that was not returned. There was no further explanation offered, no further elaboration, or justification for that amount. That is the basis of my Yelp. The day I got the notice, I was, ironically, driving to Boston to return books to both the Boston Public Library, and a university library. When I returned to Brattleboro and saw the notice, I came in inquire about the threatening tone of the note. I was assured by reference librarian the that they only sent that after an initial notice had been ignored, and that fine amount was encoded in Vermont law. I had not recieved any prior notice and I asked if there was a record that the first notice was indeed sent to me. The reference librarian then took me back to the office behind the main desk. A woman there looked up my account and told both of us that there had, in fact, been no prior notice sent. There had indeed been an error. I love the charm of the library, but I woud not assume people are out to harm it or inflict financial strain on it. I am curious to know how anyone (particularly a legislator) thought $400 was a good idea, or why it would be used as an incentive to get a book back? That's where I think $25 would do the trick. It seems like overkill and unecessarily threatening.

I relocated from Boston, MA to Deering, NH in 1977. My husband and I were looking for a place to…read moreraise our two children, then seven and twelve. We looked at many places, first in Maine, then in NH. I was reluctant to move, and agreed to it only if we could find a town with both a bowling alley and a great library! My husband just wanted a lot of land and no traffic. On our first visit to the area we checked out the library. I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful space, the stained glass windows, the hand-carved bears coat rack, the huge fireplace, and the cozy reading nooks. The head librarian, Rita Morgan, was friendly and knowledgeable, and made us feel very welcome. What cinched the deal for me was the majestic grandfather clock that chimed and bonged every hour. After 41 years here, the bowling alley is long gone, and Rita Morgan, sadly, passed on many years ago, but her successors have kept the homey feeling of the space while moving it slowly into the 21st century. While I have never gotten used to the harsh winters and buggy springs, I am happy to say I still love the library!!

Stunning building of historical significance with awesome folks who are friendly and helpful…read more Just walking around is cool if you like old architecture and 1800's mansion homes.

During the fall and winter months, I try to stop at one of the libraries in the area as part of my…read moreusual weekend errand-run. If you live in southern NH, your library card will give you free access to most of the libraries in the area: Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, Derry, Merrimack, Salem and a couple others. Very cool! Bedford has a great selection of books, including a decent amount of new titles. They have a huge collection of DVDs, including many TV series (since I dumped cable years ago I find this to be a great thing). The best part is they also have around 150+ blu-ray discs-as far as I know this is the only area library that carries them. There is a nice reading area in the back, lots of computers, an excellent kids section (the whole bottom floor, in fact), and it seems they have many public events during the week (movies, concerts, and such). My only disappointment is their graphic novel section is a little light, but seems to be growing. If you are into that kind of thing, Manchester has the best selection.

Good place serving the community we can read or borrow book can rent a meeting room. Lots of local…read moreactivities. Easy to find a parking.

Personal help finding things. Kind and experienced staff is super helpful. They reserved a book…read moreat another library and it was sent to Lilly library for me to check out. -For my book club. Computers available. Love the free Summer concerts just steps away on Thursdays.

From the owner: Lilly Library serves traditional and modern library user's needs. Come check out books, movies,…read moremusic, magazines & more. We also have ebooks and digital audiobooks available on our digital catalog. Find out about storytimes, book clubs for new readers, teens, and mystery lovers, as well as movie show times and other exciting programming on our website.

I have a friend with an autistic son living out of state and her nonverbal son was expressing a…read moreneed to get back to the library so we worked with the staff to get some pictures and the games he used to play. The staff were absolutely amazing and so very helpful and accommodating to work with us to get some pics of the games he used to play. Huge shout out to Kenzie

I've been going to Hudson library once a week for five years. The employees are very courteous,…read morehelpful, and professional. I love when they do themes; My favorite was the Alice in Wonderland (book displays and amazing decorations throughout the library). My other favorite was from February, relating to Valentine's day: 'go on a blind date with a book' on the display upstairs. the books on display were beautifully wrapped with the only bar code showing, so you would check it out and then unwrap it for the 'date.' So creative. You can tell how passionate they are about reading, and how much they enjoy their work. They have a small area just for teens. Play area and big checker board downstairs in the children's library; I always encourage my students to visit. I've received tons of books through inter-library loan.

The Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts, was established through the will of Judge Charles…read moreEdward Forbes, who died in 1881. He left $220,000 to the city to create a public library that would be free and accessible to all residents. Construction began in 1893, and the library opened in 1894. The building was designed by architect William Brocklesby in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, using Longmeadow brownstone and fireproof steel framing. It remains one of the most architecturally distinctive civic buildings in western Massachusetts. Judge Forbes was not related to the Forbes family associated with Forbes magazine or the well-known Forbes millionaire rankings. His wealth came from investments in the New Haven and Northampton Canal and later in railroads. He lived modestly, never married, and rented rooms in town. His legacy was civic rather than commercial, focused on education and public access to knowledge. The library also houses the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum, reflecting its deep ties to local and national history. So while the name might suggest a connection to publishing or wealth, the Forbes Library stands as a monument to quiet generosity and intellectual accessibility. Beyond the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Museum, the Forbes Library offered a warm, welcoming space filled with quiet nooks, curated art displays, and shelves that seemed to stretch endlessly with local history, fiction, and research materials. We explored the main reading room, where natural light poured through tall windows and the original woodwork lent a sense of timeless dignity. A rotating exhibit near the entrance showcased regional artists, while tucked-away corners revealed archival maps and Northampton memorabilia. The elevator made it easy to reach the upper floors, ensuring that the library's resources and charm were accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility. [Review 1135 of 2025 - 1276 in Massachusetts - 24688 overall]

A lovely community library. And in a historic building. One of the reasons I love Northampton.read more