Library Information
Getting Your Library Card:
All Ashland residents and property owners are eligible for free library cards at the Ashland Town Library. Persons wishing to apply for a library card must fill out an application card. Photo identification and proof of residency is required. Visitors and non-Ashland residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee of $20.00 per individual and $30.00 per family. A parent or legal guardian must sign giving permission to children under 18 years old. Your library card is effective immediately.
All Ashland residents and property owners are eligible for free library cards at the Ashland Town Library. Persons wishing to apply for a library card must fill out an application card. Photo identification and proof of residency is required. Visitors and non-Ashland residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee of $20.00 per individual and $30.00 per family. A parent or legal guardian must sign giving permission to children under 18 years old. Your library card is effective immediately.
Borrowing:
All circulating books, magazines, audio books and Kindles may be checked out for two weeks and renewed once for another two weeks. You may call or email the library to renew your materials. Extended borrowing times are available at the librarian’s discretion. Reference books do not circulate. Downloadable audio and E-books are available through Overdrive, please ask about getting your card set up to use this service.
Up to five (5) DVDs can be checked out for one week with no renewal.
Patrons may check out up to ten (10) items at a time, five (5) of which may be movies (DVDs).
The book drop can be used to return library materials when the library is closed. The book drop is located on the front porch with two separate slots; one for books and the other for audio books and DVDs. Please return library material inside the library when the library is open.
We ask that you not try to fix damaged materials. Please report any damage to the Librarian immediately.
All circulating books, magazines, audio books and Kindles may be checked out for two weeks and renewed once for another two weeks. You may call or email the library to renew your materials. Extended borrowing times are available at the librarian’s discretion. Reference books do not circulate. Downloadable audio and E-books are available through Overdrive, please ask about getting your card set up to use this service.
Up to five (5) DVDs can be checked out for one week with no renewal.
Patrons may check out up to ten (10) items at a time, five (5) of which may be movies (DVDs).
The book drop can be used to return library materials when the library is closed. The book drop is located on the front porch with two separate slots; one for books and the other for audio books and DVDs. Please return library material inside the library when the library is open.
We ask that you not try to fix damaged materials. Please report any damage to the Librarian immediately.
Inter-Library Loan:
Inter-Library Loan is a system that allows us to borrow materials for you from other libraries in the state. If we don’t have the materials you are looking for, simply fill out an ILL request form and we will find out if the materials are available to be borrowed from another library in New Hampshire. Requests usually take one to four weeks to fill. You will receive a phone call when your materials arrive.
Inter-Library Loan is a system that allows us to borrow materials for you from other libraries in the state. If we don’t have the materials you are looking for, simply fill out an ILL request form and we will find out if the materials are available to be borrowed from another library in New Hampshire. Requests usually take one to four weeks to fill. You will receive a phone call when your materials arrive.
Printing, Faxing, Scanning:
Printing & copies; cost 25 cents a page. Sending a fax is 25 cents for all pages. Scanning is free.
Printing & copies; cost 25 cents a page. Sending a fax is 25 cents for all pages. Scanning is free.
Meeting Room:
The library has a small meeting room on the second floor available to non-profit groups. The maximum occupancy of the second floor is 12 people. Contact the library for meeting room availability and application.
The library has a small meeting room on the second floor available to non-profit groups. The maximum occupancy of the second floor is 12 people. Contact the library for meeting room availability and application.
Library History
At the Town Meeting in 1871 the citizens of Ashland voted to raise $250.00 to purchase books in order to establish the Ashland Town Library. The first library was opened at Colonel Thomas P. Cheney’s home on Highland Street with his wife Mary acting as the first librarian. The library was moved several times to private homes until being housed in the Commercial Building and then to the Scribner Block. In 1895 the town built the Firemen’s Hall and the Ashland Town Library had its first permanent home sharing the space with the Fire Department (pictured below). The 1937 Town Meeting voted to accept the Emma Scribner bequest of her 19th century home and land on the corner of Main and Pleasant Street. The 1938 Town Meeting voted $500.00 to move the library to the Scribner Memorial Building. The first floor was extensively remodeled to house the library. The library was opened to the public in its current quarters on September 11, 1939.
At the Town Meeting in 1871 the citizens of Ashland voted to raise $250.00 to purchase books in order to establish the Ashland Town Library. The first library was opened at Colonel Thomas P. Cheney’s home on Highland Street with his wife Mary acting as the first librarian. The library was moved several times to private homes until being housed in the Commercial Building and then to the Scribner Block. In 1895 the town built the Firemen’s Hall and the Ashland Town Library had its first permanent home sharing the space with the Fire Department (pictured below). The 1937 Town Meeting voted to accept the Emma Scribner bequest of her 19th century home and land on the corner of Main and Pleasant Street. The 1938 Town Meeting voted $500.00 to move the library to the Scribner Memorial Building. The first floor was extensively remodeled to house the library. The library was opened to the public in its current quarters on September 11, 1939.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE LAKES REGION: AN ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY written by the Lakes Region Planning Commission, 1986
The former Scribner house was probably built before 1821 by blacksmith William Drake. However, the design of the house suggests that it was built or substantially remodeled in the mid-19th century. Later a two family tenement, the house became the home in the early 20th century of Mrs. Emma Scribner. Sometime between 1912 and 1923, Mrs. Scribner remodeled the building, removing the barn and most of the ell, but adding the sunporch. Mrs. Scribner died on September 11, 1936, leaving her home to the Town for use as a community center and library, as a memorial to her husband. The house required some remodeling to fill its new role as a library. The walls separating the central hall and three rooms on the first floor were removed and the stairway moved back to make the most of the first story. A flight of granite steps were built to give access from Main Street and a toolshed was built on the rear lawn. On September 11, 1939, the new library was opened to the public. The building has been re-sheathed with vinyl siding and interior renovations have included the removal of an upstairs bathroom, its replacement by a smaller first floor restroom, and the combination of two upstairs rooms.
The former Scribner house was probably built before 1821 by blacksmith William Drake. However, the design of the house suggests that it was built or substantially remodeled in the mid-19th century. Later a two family tenement, the house became the home in the early 20th century of Mrs. Emma Scribner. Sometime between 1912 and 1923, Mrs. Scribner remodeled the building, removing the barn and most of the ell, but adding the sunporch. Mrs. Scribner died on September 11, 1936, leaving her home to the Town for use as a community center and library, as a memorial to her husband. The house required some remodeling to fill its new role as a library. The walls separating the central hall and three rooms on the first floor were removed and the stairway moved back to make the most of the first story. A flight of granite steps were built to give access from Main Street and a toolshed was built on the rear lawn. On September 11, 1939, the new library was opened to the public. The building has been re-sheathed with vinyl siding and interior renovations have included the removal of an upstairs bathroom, its replacement by a smaller first floor restroom, and the combination of two upstairs rooms.
WILL OF EMMA H. SCRIBNER
Ashland Town Library 41 Main Street P.O. Box 660 Ashland, NH 03217 603-968-7928 ashlandtownlibrary@gmail.com