Exeter Public Library, NH, Neighbor

Exeter Public Library was established in 1853 in the old Town House at 30 Court Street. The library was on the second floor, which has since been removed from the building. The old Town House is now being used by the Senior Center. In 1894, the library was moved to a new building at 47 Front Street. An addition was built in 1942 adding space for a children’s room. In 1986, the library was moved to its present location at 4 Chestnut Street and the old library building was taken over by the Historical Society. Today the library is a very important part of the Exeter community. A nine‐ member, elected Board of Trustees oversees the library’s policies, personnel, and budget. The library’s main source of funding comes from appropriations approved by the Exeter voters. Other sources of income are trust fund income, donations including an annual appeal, grants, fees for nonresident cards and special services.

Vision and Mission Statements:

Vision

Exeter Public Library’s vision is to be the informational hub for the Exeter area, a vital institution that attracts and stimulates a vibrant community.

Mission

Exeter Public Library's mission is to promote a literate, enlightened citizenship by providing equal access to a range of media, services and programs to meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the community; and to encourage the discovery and evaluation of ideas and information, especially recognizing the library's responsibility as a place for children to discover the joy of reading