100 Main Street, Alton, New Hampshire 03809, United States
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Friends of the Library Week October 19-25
National Friends of the Library Week Observed at Gilman Library
The Staff and Trustees of the Gilman Library, at 100 Main Street, Alton wish to recognize the efforts of the Friends of the Gilman Library during the 20th Annual National Friends of the Library Week, October 19th - 25th, 2025. Throughout the years, the Friends of Gilman Library have sponsored numerous fundraisers and programs to benefit the library. Founded in 1980, the Friends have proven to be a real asset to the library.
The stated purpose of the Friends of the Gilman Library is to maintain an association of persons interested in good library service and in books: to increase the facilities and services of the Gilman Library, and thus to increase the cultural opportunities available in Alton. The activities of the association sponsor special Library projects, inform the public of the resources of the Library, secure materials that are beyond the Library budget, and perform other services deemed helpful to the Library.
The Gilman Library Friends group is a non-profit organization that meets once monthly, sets up seasonal fund-raising raffles, participates in the annual Town-wide Yard Sale on the library grounds, and keeps the library “Friends Corner Store” well-stocked, all year-round. Funds from these endeavors, and any materials secured by donations, go directly to the Friends group to be used solely to support the Gilman Library. These funds are utilized to sponsor special Library projects and secure materials that are beyond the Library budget.
Come into the Gilman Library and visit the Friends Corner! Our “Friends Corner” has an extensive collection of books and DVDs as well as handcrafted seasonal decorative items for sale. The Friends of the Gilman Library sell books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, and seasonal items. The "store" will always be open during library hours.
Please consider joining the Friends of the Gilman Library. You can pick up a brochure at the library's front desk to learn more about the organization. You can also contact the library at 603-875-2550 or visit gilmanlibrary.org for more information. Being part of this wonderful group is a great way to be together with old friends, meet new people, support the library, and give back to the community. Members are eligible for special discounts during the year. Become a Friend, bring a friend, and meet your friends at the Gilman Library Friends Meeting.
Unless otherwise posted, the Friends of the Gilman Library organization meets on the first Thursday of each month at 3:00 PM in the Friends Corner of the John D. and Anna L. Williams Room (the adult wing) of the Gilman Library.
The Gilman Friends’ activities are posted on the Gilman Library website and the Gilman Library Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, as well as four Alton Community Facebook pages and The Baysider.
National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united.
GET YOUR RAFFLES TICKETS
The lucky winner for Raffle #1 has already been drawn.
Now there are TWO Raffles left to draw!
Raffle #2 Blueberry Cozy Basket
Raffle #3 Celebrating Nature Mini-Basket
The Friends of the Gilman Library are now have two separate fundraising raffles to benefit the library. Only 100 tickets are available for each of these raffles. Each raffle winner will be drawn whenever the last ticket for the respective raffle is sold
Raffle # 2 is the Blueberry Cozy Basket. Tickets will sell for $3 (three dollars) each. This prize includes:
· the book The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
· blueberry tea
· blueberry jam
· a Rachel Zoe soy blend, linen-scented candle
· a beautiful handmade afghan, and
· a hand-made, lovely shawl.
Raffle # 3 is the Celebrating Nature Mini-Basket. These tickets are Fifty Cents each. This prize includes:
· the book Seeing George by Cassandra Austin
· a block tech succulent
· flower socks, and
· an Acadia National Park micro-puzzle
Hurry into the library to get your tickets before the last one is sold, and please consider signing up to join the Friends of the Gilman Library at the same time. See you at the library!
Guided Meditation
ALTON HANNAFORD CHOOSES TO BENEFIT GILMAN LIBRARY IN NOVEMBER
The Gilman Library, located at 100 Main Street, Alton, has once again been selected by the Alton Hannaford, located at 80 King’s Hwy, to be the beneficiary of the Hannaford Community Bag Program. The Community Bag is a component of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program together with the Fight Hunger Bag. Hannaford Reusable Bags sell for $2.50. During the month of November, 2025, $1.00 from the sale of every reusable Hannaford bag will be donated to the Gilman Library. Shoppers can also purchase the reusable Community Bag on the Hannaford-To-Go! Website and App.
Here are ten facts about the program:
1. The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program has been operating since April 2014 when the first Fight Hunger Bag was sold. The first Community Bag was sold in October 2015.
2. Since inception, the program has donated $3,751,116 to 6,641 nonprofit organizations and sold 4,418,162 reusable bags.
3. Hannaford operates 220 stores across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York that participate in the program.
4. The Hannaford Community Bag Program makes it easy for shoppers to support their communities and environment by buying durable, reusable shopping bags. A portion of each purchase goes to a local nonprofit organization. The Community Bag benefits civic, education, health & wellness, and military/veterans’ organizations.
5. Every month, the Store Leadership Team at each Hannaford location chooses a local nonprofit organization to be the monthlong beneficiary of the Community Bag. Different nonprofits are selected every month to ensure the many organizations making a difference in our local communities can be supported by this program. The name of the organization is displayed on the reusable bag rack during their benefiting month.
6. Generally, the nonprofits selected by a specific store are within a 10-mile radius of that store location. It’s important to note that this program benefits each store’s regional shopping area.
7. Each bag costs $2.50, with $1 of that purchase going to support a benefiting nonprofit in your community.
8. Nonprofits meeting the program’s qualifications are submitted to our database of thoroughly researched organizations within the vicinity of each store location
9. A list of nonprofit organizations that have benefited from the Community Bag Program can be found on the program website and is organized alphabetically.
10. The bags are made from 95% recycled materials from either nonwoven or woven polypropylene. They are manufactured in Vietnam in factories that follow the strictest guidelines for employment and production standards.
Buy a reusable bag at Alton Hannaford in November and support the Gilman Library.
https://gilmanlibrary.org/announcements
#gilmanlibrary #alton #hannaford #reusablebag #communitysupport
HELP WANTED AT THE GILMAN LIBRARY
TWO POSITIONS OPEN
Closing date for applications:
November 3, 2025
Healthy Steps for Older Adults
Minimum of 8 participants required to hold program; deadline to register November 10th.
Healthy Steps for Older Adults
Gilman Library
Meeting Room
100 Main Street, Alton
Learn how to protect yourself
and live a full and active life,
free from the fear of falling!
Call Granite VNA at (603) 224-4093, ext. 85664 to register
and schedule a 15 minute, balance screening appointment.
Friday, November 14
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - Balance Screenings
Friday, November 14
2:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Workshop 1
Friday, November 21
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Workshop 2
Registered participants must complete a balance screening and attend both workshops.
Minimum of 8 participants required to hold program; deadline to register November 10th.
GRANITE VNA
www.granitevna.org
(603) 224-4093 | (800) 924-8620
Ofces in Concord, Laconia & Wolfeboro
Granite VNA complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate in services and access to treatment, appropriate care
or employment in its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, sex (pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, conscience,
religion, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, source of payment, or the absence of advance directives.
Our Lost & Found Bin is Overflowing!
If you have visited our brick-and-mortar building at 100 Main Street, in the last few years, you may have left something behind.
Our Lost & Found Bin is overflowing!
We have coats, hats, gloves, a spare sock, sunglasses, sippy cups, a travel mug, a few handmade wooden and plastic bookmarks with first names, an empty key-chain pouch, and various and sundry trinkets and miscellanea.
If you have always wondered where that misplaced item disappeared to, please come and check at the Gilman Library. We would hate to discard your lost treasure.
Good Bye, Good Bye Miss Loralie!
Missing Miss Loralie : A Poem
Miss Loralie has said "Good Bye"!
She's left us for NHTI.
We really do not want to cry.
We smile, instead, and heave a sigh.
We know it's time she spreads her wings.
Her future calls and sweetly sings.
We wish for her the best life brings.
She'll learn and grow, and do great things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miss Loralie Chase has been at the Gilman Library since March of 2023 first as a volunteer for school credit. After the school year concluded, in June 2023, she joined our library staff in a part-time position, while continuing at Prospect Mountain High School. In high school, she participated in the PMHS dual enrollment completing high school courses and college-level courses at the same time, to give her a "running start" on her college degree before she turned 18.
We look for Loralie to return to the Library for visits on her college breaks and maybe even an occasional Saturday. As we say "Good bye" we add "See you soon!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://gilmanlibrary.org/announcements
https://gilmanlibrary.org/missing-miss-loralie
#gilmanlibrary
WANTED: Someone experienced in caning vintage chairs
WANTED: Someone experienced in caning vintage chairs
PLEASE CALL OR VISIT THE GILMAN LIBRARY
Our Brick-and-Mortar Building Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday & Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Holidays.
Weather Closings are posted on our calendar.
Location
100 Main Street
[MAIL TO: PO BOX 960]
Alton, NH 03809
General email address:
Telephones
Telephone: (603) 875-2550
FAX: (603) 651-0737
Texting SMS number: (603) 267-4302