2022
1925
On November 18, 1908 the library was opened to the public, with Mrs. Emma Sholes as librarian.
Withdrawals totalled 400 volumes in the ensuing two months and the library proved to be well patronized. At the beginning of the year 1909 there were over 1500 volumes on the shelves, beside a lage collection of magazines and pamphlets.
Walter R. Nelson, History of Goshen New Hampshire, 2nd ed.(Concord, NH: Evans Printing Company 1984) p. 327
In 1999, the library underwent an expansion, adding a few hundred square feet to the rear of the building. This allowed us to install a bathroom, a foyer with side entrance and ramp access, as well as our computer/craft room.
In 2022, we were thrilled to use grant money to install new lighting and ceiling fans to the library. Then in Spring 2024, the original windows and front door were replaced with energy efficient options. Improving the facility while keeping with it's original construction and style is very important to us.
Presently there are over 6,000 items in the collection - books, audio CD, DVD, magazines and newspapers. New items are added daily and the collection can be searched remotely through Libraryworld.com. You can also search for and borrow from the collections of libraries in the state of New Hampshire through the Inter-Library Loan program. Additionally, your library card gets you access into the NH Downloadable Books database through the Library's membership in the NHDB Overdrive consortium. There are over 8,000 audio-book titles and 10,000 E-book titles you can download for free! You can download these to your computer and/or smart phones and tablets.
We hold a monthly storytime from 11 am to noon, usually on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Storytimes are geared towards children between 4 and 10, but all ages are welcome. Each storytime consists of 2-4 stories read aloud, a craft, and sometimes songs and snacks! Adults are invited to participate in our book club, which meets on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30. We often have treats to fuel our lively discussions! All of this and more keeps the Library a busy center of community engagement. Take a look at our Upcoming Events tab for more information about offerings for all ages.
WiFi access is available to the public and we have 2 public use computers. The wifi network is OGP Guest and the password is the same as the name (don't forget the space!)
The library provides much more than just books. Our expanding library of things is here for you to utilize. Want to scan the night skies? Check out the Meade ETX-125 Telescope.1 Need a simple digital camera for the weekend? We've got two to lend. Looking to explore New Hampshire's natural beauty? We have a variety of backpacks with tools for hiking safety, birdwatching, and more available for checkout.
The Library is a place of change and growth, community and privacy. It is your gateway to facts and fictions, historic memories and future imaginings, self-education and playful entertainment. At the Olive G. Pettis Memorial Library we encourage you to come in and visit and...
~ Read ~ Dream ~ Believe ~ Create ~ Succeed ~
1 non-traditional items for circulation may require a contract and multiple forms of ID