Monday February 17  CLOSED

We have a selection of DVDs labeled "New and Noteworthy?"

These are feature films, documentaries, and TV series we've added to the colleciton in the past year. 

You can browse new titles easily in the library, and can check out up to 5 of these DVDs at a time, for 1 week. 

All other DVDs now go out for 2 weeks and up to 10 can be taken at a time! 

Time to binge that show you missed... or spend more time with old favorites!

Fanny Brodar
February 2020

Ever wonder what inspires and motivates an artist to create? The artist curated book display is an ongoing series at the Portsmouth Public Library in which local artists are invited to exhibit their work alongside a display of ten library items that inspire it. The ACBD is an opportunity for patrons to be introduced to the work of local artists and be reminded that public libraries are a wonderful resource for inspiration.

Fanny Brodar graduated from the Art Institute of Boston with a BFA in Illustration, and although she dabbled in art, life took many twists and turns. Her dreams of being a children’s book illustrator slipped away. Then a couple of years ago, a friend gifted her mom’s old easel. This inspired her to pick up a paint brush again. Soon it became an obsession to paint, and she hasn’t stopped since. Her art is influenced by the purity and simplicity of childhood, books that she loves, pop culture, and color psychology. Her technique is acrylic and action painting. She paints from the subconscious like her inner child would, inspired by characters from her childhood that shape her own made-up characters.

What inspires you?

Sundays 1:30 – 4:30
Tuesdays 1:30 – 5:30
February 2 – April 14

Closed Sundays February 16, March 15 and April 12!

This service is offered to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special consideration given to those age 60 and older. The program is run by trained and certified volunteers.

Please bring the following, if applicable:

• W-2 forms;
• unemployment compensation statements;
• all 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-R, 1099-Misc, etc.);
• dependent care provider information;
• receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions;
• Social Security cards for yourself and all dependents. 

Dial 2-1-1 or visit nhtaxhelp.org to schedule an appointment with the NH Tax Line. Walk-ins also welcome.

For more information visit aarp.org/taxaide.

Black Heritage Trail
2020 Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks
February 2 – March 8, 2020

The Winter Tea Talk Series, presented by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in partnership with the Portsmouth Public Library and Temple Israel, is a series of participatory lectures related to New Hampshire’s Black history and African American culture.

Four of these Talks will be held at the Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room, 175 Parrot Avenue, Portsmouth, NH. The others will be held at Temple Israel, 200 State St., Portsmouth NH

All talks are from 2 – 4 pm. In case of inclement weather, a canceled talk will be rescheduled for March 15 or March 22.

These events are Free and open to the public.

For full descriptions and biographies, please visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/tea-talks.

Sunday February 2
We Are Our Beliefs — Or Are We?
Presenters: Chris Matthews, Jeannine Jacques, Eric Schildge
Location: Temple Israel, 200 State St., Portsmouth NH

Sunday February 9
No Neutral Ground: Media and Belief Formulation
Presenters: Shelley Walcott, Eric Ratinoff, Howard Altschiller
Location: Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room

Sunday February 16
Medicine, Health, and Race
Presenters: Shari Robinson, Daphne Robert, Kerri Osborne
Location: Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room

Sunday February 23
Culture and Race in the Public Sphere
Presenters: Anthony Poore, Nathaniel Sheidley, Dennis Britton, J. Dennis Robinson
Location: Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room

Sunday March 1
Racism without Racists: Educating Generations Past & Future
Presenters: Kabria Baumgartner, Mabelle Barnette, Liz Canada, Elizabeth Dubrulle
Location: Portsmouth Public Library, Levenson Room

Sunday March 8
New Voices: Our Beliefs, Our Reality
Presenters: Funmi Oyekunle, Carlos Cardona, Courtney Dalbec, Jordan Thompson
Location: Temple Israel, 200 State St., Portsmouth

For full descriptions and biographies, please visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/tea-talks.

Note: due to the high level of interest in this series, we now require registration for each event. Please visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/indigenous to register.

The city of Portsmouth is on the homelands of the Abenaki people, who have ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this area. According to Tribal oral tradition, Abenaki people have lived in the place now called New Hampshire for more than 12,000 years—since before Tribal memory. The Abenaki are part of a larger group of Indigenous people who called themselves Wabanaki or “People of the Dawn,” and form one of many communities connected by a common Algonquian language family. To honor this history, in 2020 Portsmouth Public Library will begin hosting a monthly series of Indigenous Stories, featuring speakers on Indigenous culture, history and perspectives. This series is cosponsored by Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth 400 and the Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective, and is free and open to all!

People of the Dawnland
Dr. Alexandra Martin & Anne Jennison, Strawbery Banke
Tuesday February 4 | 6:30 PM
“People of the Dawnland,” an interactive exhibit at Strawbery Banke, is a space for learning more about the Abenaki, People of the Dawnland, past and present, by exploring their culture, arts, foodways and storytelling traditions. Objects found by archaeologists in the Puddle Dock neighborhood of Strawbery Banke include pottery and stone tools; and demonstrate that Native people have been here for millennia. Anne Jennison, a Strawbery Banke interpreter of European and Abenaki ancestry, and Dr. Alexandra Martin, a non-Native Professor of Native Studies in the Anthropology Department at UNH, and will share their experiences and thoughts about creating the exhibit. View this event on Facebook!

And in March, don't miss...
Abenaki Horticulture & Garden Forestry
Dr. Fred Wiseman
Monday March 2 | 6:30 PM

Please visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/indigenous to register.

Tuesdays & Thursdays, February 4 – 27
7 – 8:30 PM

Come one, come all, to become an expert and a player in one of the Bard’s plays! This month-long intensive workshop will give you a chance to live out your dream of performing a dramatic reading, and to learn more about the material and Shakespeare’s influences.

This year, we will focus on Hamlet. On Tuesdays, learn about Shakespeare and the history behind Hamlet, with library staff member Tori Simpson-Tucker, and watch a film production of the play. Dive into the depth of political and social intrigue that may have inspired the writing of the famous play. On Thursdays, we will read Hamlet aloud, with direction by Katrina Feraco.

This program is free and open to all adults and teens ages 13+. All levels of interest and experience are welcome. We hope you will join us!

Registration is required and attendance is expected at all 8 sessions! Find out more and register online at cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/shakespeare.

with Guy Capecelatro III
Saturday February 8 | 2 – 4 PM

For aspiring songwriters, old pros who need a creative kickstart, and anyone tackling the RPM challenge. Local musician & writer Guy Capecelatro will discuss songwriting and how to find new ways to make songs – without waiting for that flash of inspiration to hit us on the head.

There will be prompts offered and time to put pen to paper.

Don’t bring an instrument, as we’ll just be focusing on the words!

Free and open to all. Drop-in.

View this event on Facebook!

Local History Talk
Monday February 10 | 7 – 8:30 PM
Portsmouth Public Library

The library’s Local History series features authors and experts on local history topics. The series continues with educator Lauren Gianino, who’ll shine a spotlight on women from Portsmouth and Dover who were key players in the fight for suffrage.

In 2020, the nation will commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. It was a complex battle waged by both sexes and it took many decades before the fight for women’s suffrage was won.

In her lecture, Lauren Gianino will provide a brief outline of the suffrage movement and beyond from its beginnings in the 1830s to the present day. She will shed light on the opposition movement and the challenges that women’s rights advocates confronted. Gianino will explain how the suffrage movement in New Hampshire arose and what it looked like here in the city, focusing on Seacoast women who fought for suffrage on the local, state, and national levels. The lecture will conclude with a look at the post-ratification period and the fight for equal rights that continues to this day.

Find out more at cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/suffrage.

View this event on Facebook!

Hoping to learn a new skill in the new year? Looking for affordable ways to make or mend the things you need? Wish you had more crafting or technology gear to play with? Look no further than The Workshop at Portsmouth Public Library. The Workshop is a space for learning, crafting, making, mending and experimenting for all ages. To kick off, we’ll be offering a series of classes throughout the winter months.

Space is limited – registration is required! Visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/theworkshop to register. All attendees must have a safety waiver signed by an adult.

Intro to GoPro & Video Editing
2-Week Class | Thursdays February 13 & 20 | 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Help the library create a video tour of the building in this two-week course! In the first session, we’ll learn to use the library’s GoPro camera along with a DSLR and iPhone, and work as a team to capture footage around the library building. In the second session, we’ll learn to use iMovie to cut the footage together into something fun & useful! Ages 13+. 

Intro to the Oculus Quest
Saturday February 29 | 2 – 4 PM
The Oculus Quest is a virtual reality headset & gaming system. Each attendee will have time to get immersed in another world, and learn about some of the games and experiences available! Ages 13+.

Space is limited – registration is required! Visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/theworkshop to register. All attendees must have a safety waiver signed by an adult.

Stay tuned for sewing & textile classes in March – including embroidery and knitting!

Saturday February 15 | 2 – 3:30 PM

Join nationally known author, funeral reform advocate and speaker Lee Webster for an afternoon of stripping away the veil to learn how you can plan a funeral that is natural, affordable, and meaningful. We’ll reveal the truth about how we came by our current funeral expectations, and how we can bring back care for our own dead to ensure that our funerals truly reflect our values.

If you’re looking for home funeral and green burial how-tos and why-fors, join us!

Some topics we'll explore: legal rights and responsibilities, the problems with cremation, green alternatives that are not green at all.

Free and open to all!

Find out more at cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/goingoutgreen.

Our Genealogy Workshops will resume in February! Presented by the library’s Special Collections staff and members of the Ranger Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), these events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all levels of interest and experience. All levels will learn something new! We hope you will join us on the third Sunday each month.

Family History on your Smartphone, iPad or Tablet
with Pamela Guye Holland
Sunday February 16 | 2 PM | Hilton Garden Room

Ever wonder how to use your smart device to retrieve, store, and share your genealogical data? This talk will cover apps that are available for family trees, DNA, note taking, family stories, oral history, cemeteries, managing your book collection, scanning photos and documents and more. All apps are free and available for Android and Apple, unless noted otherwise.

Pamela Guye Holland lives in Swampscott, Mass., and has been conducting genealogical research since 2001. Her specialties are Irish research and genetic genealogy. She serves on the boards of The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA) and the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (NEAPG). She works at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) and also takes private clients. She can be found at GenealogyByPamHolland.com.

And don't miss our spring workshops...

Spinning Gold: Shaping Your Family Research into Compelling Stories
with Christine Halvorson
Sunday March 15 | 2 PM | Hilton Garden Room

A Closer Look at Vital Records
with Robert Cameron Weir
Sunday April 19 | 2 PM | Levenson Room

Find out more at cityofportsmouth.com/library/genealogy.

Monday February 24
6:30 – 8 PM

Calling all planners: join the Planner Society. Meet other like-minded organized, artistic folks. Bring your planner, your favorite pens, and we'll provide the rest! With regular activities celebrating all things planner. Great for adults or teens. Meets on the last Monday of every month!

This program is free and open to the public.

Three Week Course | Saturdays 10 AM - 12 PM
February 29, March 7, March 14

Portsmouth Public Library presents a comprehensive organic gardening course presented by an experienced teacher and commercial vegetable grower.

This is a six hour course taught in weekly, two hour sessions, to be held Saturdays February 29, March 7 and March 14, 10 AM – 12 PM.

The course will included practical tips on: how to create a new garden; soil preparation; seed starting; planting techniques; cultural techniques during the growing season (such as watering, fertilizing, and pest and weed control); how plants and soil interact; succession planting; planting multiple crops in the same space at the same time; how to compost; crop rotation; cover cropping; and mycorrhizobials.

There also will be discussions about our existing industrial food production system, including pesticides, genetically modified seeds, seed labeling & supplier concentration, globalization & famine, organic certification, and regulatory capture.

The instructor is Vincent Cirasole from Rochester. He has taught physical education and organic gardening in New York before relocating to the Granite State in 2013. He also is a Master Gardener, a commercial vegetable grower, and an organic growing enthusiast. Over a period of years, he has developed this course which has proven to be fascinating and popular with students. Cirasole has recently written a book entitled, How to Grow a Vegetable Garden that Cannot Fail.

FREE and open to the public. Registration is required. Please visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/gardening to register!

View this event on Facebook!

Live Guitar Performances
at Portsmouth Public Library & Portsmouth Music and Arts Center
Sundays, 3 PM

This year, the Portsmouth Public Library and PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Arts Center), in association with the Boston Classical Guitar Society, will continue their series of live guitar performances called Guitar Sundays, produced and curated by Mitch Shuldman. These free concerts will be held at 3 PM, one Sunday per month, alternating locations between the Levenson Room at the Portsmouth Public Library and the Haas Family Gallery and Recital Hall at PMAC.

Drawing from a rich selection of guitar talent from both New Hampshire and the greater Boston area, the series of recitals will highlight the versatility and range of the guitar from classical to jazz to acoustic.

March 1 @ PMAC
David William Ross, Classical Guitar
View this event on Facebook!

April 5 @ Portsmouth Public Library
Bokyung Byun, Classical Guitar
View this event on Facebook!

May 31 @ PMAC
The Hampton Trio, Classical Guitar, Mandolin and Mandola
View this event on Facebook!

Find out more at cityofportsmouth.com/library/news/guitarsundays.

The library offers three monthly book discussion groups for adults: Fiction, Nonfiction (with seasonal themes), and Speculative Fiction! All are welcome. Books are available for checkout with your PPL card.

Fiction Book Discussion

The library's Fiction Book Club meets the second Monday each month at 1 PM and 7 PM at the library. 

February 10 – The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
At 39, getting divorced, Benjamin Benjamin is haunted by an immense unspecified loss and eking out a living as a caregiver to teenage Trevor, who suffers from muscular dystrophy. He’s good at the job, his first after a long stint as a full-time dad. He and Trevor construct a map pinpointing odd Americana (“Mystery houses, vortexes, crop circles, and other unexplained phenomenon”) [and] do finally end up on the road…

Nonfiction Book Discussion

Nonfiction Book Discussion meets the third Tuesday each month at 7 PM at the library. Nonfiction Book Club takes on seasonal themes. January – March, we’ll explore the 1920s, and beginning in April, we will read three months of LGBTQ+ memoirs!

February 18 - 1920: The Year That Made the Decade Roar by Eric Burns
Burns takes readers on a thorough tour of the upheavals and events of the year when “the Roaring Twenties first began to roar.” More than a “preview of a decade,” 1920 was “a preview of the entire century and even the century to follow.” In particular, Burns focuses on the beginning of Prohibition, the passing of the 19th Amendment, the popular explosion of jazz, and the rise and fall of Charles Ponzi. He also touches upon corruption in the White House, the Teapot Dome Scandal, and the radical inequality of wealth distribution.

Speculative Fiction Book Discussion

The Speculative Fiction Book Group meets on the final Tuesday of each month at Popovers on the Square. Spec Fic is a genre that encompasses fantasy, science fiction, horror and everything in between. Speculative fiction asks, what if?

February 25 - The Quick by Lauren Owen
Debut author Owen sets her seductive book in 1892, in a late-Victorian London with a serious vampire problem. And like her Victorian counterparts, Owen depicts a host of characters: there’s shy, provincial poet James Norbury and his intrepid sister Charlotte; vampire hunters Adeline Swift and Shadwell; a rich American in danger; and Augustus Mould, who researches vampire myth and fact on behalf of the vampires, and who’s as warm and friendly as his name suggests. The vampire world is divided: the elite men of the Aegolius club coexist, not happily, with a ragged band of underclass undead.

Mondays 6 - 6:45 PM
Wednesdays 12:15 - 1 PM

Did you know the library offers weekly drop-in meditation? We offer many formats from many traditions, with experienced local teachers, and every sit is appropriate for beginners or seasoned meditators. If you're hoping for a refreshed perspective, or to learn how mindfulness can improve your quality of life, drop by any Monday or Wednesday to meditate with us. 

Find out more about the program and facilitators at cityofportsmouth.com/library/weekly-meditation.