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The Town of Londonderry’s budget season for fiscal year 2024-2025 is currently underway. At the Town Council meeting on November 20, the Budget Committee communicated to Director Erin Matlin that the library should prepare for a budget cut during fiscal year 2024-2025. At this time, no other Town department has received this message. The current proposed library budget for FY 2024-2025 totaling $1,527,802 includes the first year’s annual membership fee for the Greater Manchester Integrated Library Cooperative System (GMILCS) estimated to be $34,320. A budget cut could permanently revoke the library’s opportunity to become a GMILCS member. The tax impact of joining GMILCS is less than a penny per household. Membership would offer a strong return on investment for the community by providing: - Direct access to over 1.4 million materials at 13 nearby libraries including the Derry Public Library, Manchester City Library, Bedford Public Library, Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson, and Nesmith Library in Windham. - Access to a new digital collection.
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- Faster access with delivery service three days per week and the option to pick up materials at other member libraries. - More convenience with additional service hours at other GMILCS libraries such as Sunday afternoons and later evenings. - A new, shared library catalog that will better meet technology expectations with the ability to receive digital notifications and reminders, place holds on items on order, browse new materials online, and more. - A support network for library staff to learn from other libraries’ experiences, leading to cost savings through new vendors, program collaboration, and more efficient practices. In preparing the budget, library management staff and the Board of Trustees agreed to tighten other areas of the budget to reallocate $12,000 to the GMILCS membership fee in order to offset the impact on taxpayers. Additionally, the one-time onboarding cost estimated to be $24,300 will have no tax impact. The Board of Trustees agreed to fund the majority of the onboarding cost, and the Friends
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of the Leach Library are currently fundraising for the remainder. If the library’s budget is cut, the Board of Trustees will determine what services the cut impacts. A budget cut could affect staffing, operating hours, programming, digital offerings such as hoopla and databases, availability of materials and subscriptions, GMILCS membership, etc. Members of the public are welcome to comment on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget at the following upcoming meetings: - Monday, December 4, 2023 at 7:00pm, Londonderry Town Hall - Monday, December 18, 2023 at 7:00pm, Londonderry Town Hall - Monday, January 15, 2024 at 7:00pm, Londonderry Town Hall - Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 9:00am, Londonderry High School Café Additional documents and meeting recordings are linked below:
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Upcoming Holiday Hours Saturday, December 23: Closed Monday, December 25: Closed Saturday, December 30: Closing at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 1: Closed
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The Friends of the Leach Library are hosting a fundraiser to help offset the onboarding cost to join the Greater Manchester Integrated Library Cooperative System (GMILCS). The fundraiser will continue through Saturday, December 16.
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Stop by the library’s main desk to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win local restaurant gift cards or a framed painting donated by one of the Friends! Monetary donations are also welcome by cash or check (payable to “Friends of the Leach Library”). For additional information, please call Erin Matlin, Library Director, at 603-432-1132.
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Garage Bell Band Presents "Winter" On Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m., join the Leach Library staff for an evening of seasonal and holiday music. The Garage Bell Band will perform their program "Winter". Hot cocoa will be provided, and the Friends of the Leach Library will be selling baked goods. New Hampshire’s elite handbell quartet, The Garage Bell Band, is the quartet version of the larger handbell ensemble known as the Granite State Ringers. Registration is limited to 75 people and begins on Thursday, December 7. To register, visit the library’s online calendar or call (603) 432-1132.
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DIY Glitter Ornaments Come to the Leach Library on Monday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. to create your very own DIY glitter ornament. Your sparkly creation will be sure to bring some pizazz to your home!
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Drop-In Tech Help Curious about reserving library materials online from home? Want to learn how to access our various databases and digital collections? Looking to get started with Libby and Hoopla? Need help navigating a new device? The Leach Library reference staff has you covered! We are here to provide one-on-one assistance tailored to your technology-related needs. No appointment is necessary. Stop in any Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment for another time, please call the library at (603) 432-1132.
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Crafternoon Drop in to Crafternoon, a monthly 90-minute meet-up for crafters at the Leach Library! On Wednesday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m., bring your own craft project and supplies, and work alongside other local crafters. No registration is required. For more information, call the library at (603) 432-1132.
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Read Local at Backyard Brewery Come to the Backyard Brewery on Monday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Fredrik Backman’s novel Beartown over good food and drinks! Backyard Brewery is located at 1211 S Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH 03109. Individuals are responsible for their own food and drink. Registration opens on Monday, December 11 and is limited to 15 participants. To register, visit the library's online calendar or call (603) 432-1132. Copies of the book will be available to check out at the main desk.
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True Crime Podcast Discussion Join the Leach Library staff on Thursday, January 11 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss all seven episodes of Bear Brook: Season 1, a case that happened right here in New Hampshire. Listen to all episodes for free on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or at BearBrookPodcast.com. Don’t know how a podcast discussion works? It’s exactly like a book discussion, but instead of participants reading the same book prior to the meeting, they listen to the same podcast.
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Perler Bead Craft Teens and tweens are invited for a study break in the Leach Library Meeting Room on Tuesday, December 5 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. During this program, an assortment of Perler Beads and patterns will be on hand to help crafters create a piece to take home. Registration is required and begins on Tuesday, November 28.
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Dungeons & Dragons Calling all teen and tween adventurers! Join the Dragoneers Club for a standalone quest on Monday, December 18 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the Leach Library Meeting Room. All experience levels welcome! Registration is required and begins on Monday, December 11.
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Gingerbread Houses Teen and tween builders will be able to create their own gingerbread house-inspired creations with an assortment of graham crackers, candy, and frosting. Stop by the Leach Library Meeting Room on Tuesday, December 12 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. for a sweet time! Teens will have an opportunity to try their creations during the program or bring them home to enjoy. Registration is required and begins on Tuesday, December 5. Please advise library staff of any food allergies when registering for the program. Click here to register online or call (603) 432-1132.
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Space Rangers Get ready to blast off into a new adventure on Thursday, December 21 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Leach Library Meeting Room. During this one-hour, space-themed program, students ages 9-14 will explore different space science topics through hands-on activities and games.
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Laser Tag On Tuesday, December 26 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., teens and tweens are invited to a Laser Tag experience in the Leach Library Meeting Room. Groups of teens will play against each other while moving through a series of obstacles.
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Coding Club On Wednesday, December 27 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., students in grades 4-8 will be able to explore a variety of coding exercises and programs including using screen-free coding robots, independent online coding, and other guided activities online. This program is open to participants ages 9-14. Registration is required and begins on Wednesday, December 20.
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Game On: Supersized On Thursday, December 28 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., teens and tweens will be able to play an assortment of game night favorites in giant form! Games include Human Hungry Hippos, Yahtzee, and more.
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