Amherst Town Library
🏢 NH Downloadable Books Consortium · Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst Town Library
The Amherst Town Library has served Hillsborough County's Amherst since 1797, when the town's first minister bequeathed his personal library to the community — making it one of New Hampshire's oldest public libraries. Its 1892 granite building, expanded three times and now over 13,500 square feet, stands at the heart of Amherst Village and offers museum passes, free notary service, and open seven days a week.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–8:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–8:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–8:30pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–8:30pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–3pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 14 Main Street, Amherst, NH 03031
Phone: (603) 673-2288
Website: amherstlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87JCV97F+22 (Amherst, NH)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Amherst Town Library
The Amherst Town Library's origins trace to 1797, when Reverend Daniel Wilkins, Amherst's first Congregational minister, left his personal library to the town to establish a public collection. An Amherst Library Association formed in 1859 with 600 volumes and eventually outgrew its Town Hall quarters. On April 30, 1892, the town dedicated its first purpose-built library on 'Judge Parker's garden,' a single-story granite structure of 44 by 22 feet built with voluntary subscriptions. The Gilbert Stuart portrait of prominent Amherst citizen Charles H. Atherton was gifted at the dedication ceremony. By 1907 the building was already too small; in 1909 James W. Towne offered $10,000 for an expansion contingent on the town raising its maintenance budget by $100 per year, and in 1911 the first major renovation was completed, adding Mexican mahogany interiors, terrazzo marble floors, and a copper-glass marquee entrance. A 1971 renovation added a rear reading room and children's library, and a comprehensive $1.1 million renovation in 1987 brought the facility to over 13,500 square feet. Today the library holds the recovered Gilbert Stuart portrait under security, offers museum passes to Boston-area museums, free notary service, and seven-day-a-week hours for the Amherst community.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1797 when Rev. Daniel Wilkins bequeathed his library to the town — among New Hampshire's oldest continuously operating public libraries
- 1892 granite building expanded in 1911 (James W. Towne gift), 1971, and 1987 to reach 13,500+ square feet
- Holds the town's original Gilbert Stuart portrait of Charles H. Atherton, gifted at the 1892 dedication
- Museum passes for free and discounted admission to local and Boston-area museums
- Free notary service and open seven days a week for the Amherst community
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Amherst cardholders enjoy free digital borrowing and research tools through New Hampshire's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Museum passes — free and discounted admission to local and Boston-area museums
- Free notary service for all patrons
- Meeting rooms for nonprofit and educational use
- Public computers with Microsoft Office, internet & Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying & scanning
- Book club support — discussable reads and guidance
- Children's, teen & adult reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- ATL Reads — monthly adult book discussion group
- Tots & Tunes, Little Listeners & Creative Corner — children's programs
- Teen programs and makerspace activities
- Mahjong group & garden club programs
- Community discussions and author events
- Summer reading program for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Hillsborough County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Amherst · Browse all New Hampshire libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Amherst Town Library, and how did it start?
The library dates to 1797, when Reverend Daniel Wilkins — Amherst's first Congregational minister — bequeathed his personal book collection to the town. A formal library association formed in 1859, and the town opened its first purpose-built library building on April 30, 1892. That makes the Amherst Town Library one of the oldest continuously operating public libraries in New Hampshire, with over 225 years of service.
What is the Gilbert Stuart portrait at the library?
The library holds a portrait of Charles H. Atherton, a prominent Amherst jurist and public figure, painted by Gilbert Stuart — the same artist famous for the unfinished portrait of George Washington that appears on the U.S. one-dollar bill. The portrait was gifted to the library at its April 30, 1892 dedication ceremony and remains a treasured piece of local history, displayed under a security system.
Does Amherst Town Library offer museum passes and notary service?
Yes to both. The library lends museum passes providing free admission or discount coupons to local and Boston-area museums, which cardholders can reserve in advance. Free notary service is also available to all patrons — call (603) 673-2288 or check the library's website to arrange an appointment.
Is the library open on weekends and evenings?
Yes. The library is open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.