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April 2025 Celebrating National Library Week & Supporting Goffstown Public Library

The Goffstown Public Library Foundation is now raising money to provide matching funds for the planned window preservation project. We aim to raise $60,000 over the next few years as part of the community support needed for New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) grants. NH LCHIP is an independent state authority that provides matched grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to protect and preserve the state’s natural, cultural, and historic resources.

Chapter 1: The current windows are original to the historic building and need to be preserved to continue to survive our New Hampshire weather, help us Seal the Deal, and the building with your generous donation. The Library Trustees have been working to identify and prioritize projects to maintain the historic building and the Foundation is here to help. Some funding sources have diminished with the decrease in federal grants, making our plea to our local donors even more important.

With your donation, the Goffstown Public Library will continue to be a vibrant part of our community for many more years. We would be grateful if you would include the Goffstown Public Library Foundation in your charitable giving.

Libraries transform communities and lives. The Goffstown Public Library has been enriching lives since its inception—from children and families, teens and students, reading groups and civic organizations, to anyone looking for information, enjoyment, and community connection.

Contributions may be made by check (payable to “GPLF” and mailed to GPLF c/o Goffstown Public Library, 2 High St, Goffstown NH 03045), or online here at How to Give. Check with your employer about corporate matching opportunities.

Kathy Coughlin
Chair, Goffstown Public Library Foundation

December 2024: A Message of Gratitude

To our Goffstown neighbors,

As the year comes to a close, we reflect on the generosity of our community. We are grateful to each of you who contributed financially in response to our fall appeal letter. As we’ve mentioned previously, the Foundation has pledged funds for an upcoming interior project at the Goffstown Public Library. Your support this year allows us to continue to grow the Foundation’s funds for future commitments.

On November 23, we hosted the annual Once Upon a Pie event at Goffstown High School, our largest annual fundraising event. Attendance and contributed pies exceeded last year’s level. Our enthusiastic donors bought slices of pie and bid successfully on beautifully crafted pies, resulting in over $3,000 raised. Our gratitude runs deep and wide; the Foundation acknowledges the support of bakers, attendees, judges, Foundation and Library Board of Trustees volunteers, the Teen Advisory Board, our auctioneer and MCs, Goffstown High School, and many others.     

As the Foundation continues to work to assist with the expense of the restoration projects that the Library Board of Trustees has identified, we welcome your year-end support. Contributions may be made by check (payable to “GPLF” and mailed to 2 High St, Goffstown NH 03045), or via credit card and other means. See our How to Give page. 

We’re grateful for the service of outgoing Foundation directors Sue Riel and Emily Petrie. Their commitment to the Foundation and to the Library’s capital projects has been significant. At its annual meeting earlier this month, the Foundation re-elected Bill Babine and Curt DeVetter to three-year terms and welcomed Deborah McCarter to the Board, electing her to a three-year term. See our About page for a list of Foundation directors and bios. 

The Foundation’s directors wish you all a happy holiday season. We look forward to your participation in our community events and fundraising efforts in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Kathy Coughlin
Chair, Goffstown Public Library Foundation

September 2024 Appeal

To our Goffstown neighbors,

Your support has allowed the Goffstown Public Library Foundation to raise awareness of our mission, to support the capital needs of the library and engage in grassroots fundraising. We are committed to supporting the capital needs of the library and have pledged funds for a small upcoming interior project. This pledge does not preclude our long-term goal of an addition to the building. We continue to participate in town events, and soon will be hosting our largest community and fundraising event, Once Upon a Pie, on November 23, 2024, at Goffstown High School. We hope to see you there!

Libraries can and do transform communities and lives. The Goffstown Public Library has been enriching lives for 115 years—for children and families, teens, and students, reading groups and civic organizations, and anyone else looking for information, enjoyment, and community connection.  

This is just the beginning. The Foundation will continue our efforts to raise money to assist in the restoration projects the Library Board of Trustees has identified. With your financial support, the Goffstown Public Library will continue to be a vibrant part of our community for many more years. We would be grateful if you would include the Goffstown Public Library Foundation in your charitable giving. 

Contributions may be made by check (payable to “GPLF” and mailed to 2 High St, Goffstown NH 03045), or via credit card and other means. See our How to Give page. 

We cannot do this alone. Thank you for considering your part in this important community resource. 

Kathy Coughlin
Chair, Goffstown Public Library Foundation

The Goffstown Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our EIN is 85-3993353. Will your employer match your gift? 

  

Message From the Library Board of Trustees

UPDATE 8/17/23:

The Library Board of Trustees (LBOT) will not be pursuing a warrant article in 2024 for the previously proposed expansion of the public library. The project has been removed from the town’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Matrix. It does, however, remain notated on the form for possible consideration at a later date.

The results of last year’s election were clear, and the short-term plan will be to focus our efforts on the renovations and repairs that are required immediately to maintain the building’s safety and to provide accessibility.

The Goffstown Public Library will continue to offer the award-winning service that our town has come to expect and enjoy. The LBOT will continue its dedication and service to the town and will continue to advocate for our public library.

We’re proud of the beautiful and historic building that has been the Goffstown Public Library’s home since 1909. Our beautiful and very old building needs some renovation and repair so that the library can continue to operate in a safe and accessible manner for its staff and visitors. The LBOT is seeking the town’s support in accomplishing these goals. The LBOT meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of the month; all meetings are public. Dates are included at www.goffstownlibrary.com/calendar

Further communication should be addressed to the Library Board of Trustees at trustees@goffstownlibrary.com