Abbie Greenleaf Library
🏢 New Hampshire State Library Network · Franconia, New Hampshire
Abbie Greenleaf Library
Built in 1912 with stained-glass windows, mahogany woodwork, and a mosaic floor modeled after Boston's State House, the Abbie Greenleaf Library at 439 Main Street is one of the most architecturally distinctive small libraries in New Hampshire — a Colonel Charles Greenleaf commission set in Franconia's White Mountains village and named for his late wife, a devoted patron of the community.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 1pm–5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–1pm |
| Wednesday | 1pm–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 10am–1pm |
| Friday | 12pm–3pm |
| Saturday | 10am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 439 Main Street, Franconia, NH 03580
Phone: (603) 823-8424
Website: abbielibrary.org
Plus Code: 87PC67G3+MX (Franconia, NH)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Abbie Greenleaf Library
The Abbie Greenleaf Library traces its roots to 1850, when the first 100 donated books were housed in a Franconia general store. By 1892 the collection had grown large enough to earn the designation 'Free Library,' and by 1910 its 4,336 volumes had outgrown every available space. Colonel Charles H. Greenleaf then commissioned Boston architect W. H. McLean to design a permanent home, which opened December 11, 1912 — a Romanesque structure of three rooms (reading room, stack room, and vestibule) with stained glass windows, mahogany woodwork, and a handcrafted mosaic floor inspired by the Massachusetts State House. The library honors Abbie Frances Burnham Greenleaf (1841–1914), Colonel Greenleaf's first wife: a Vermont-born Daughter of the American Revolution who loved the White Mountains and devoted herself to Franconia's charitable life. A 1971 addition funded by trustee Lucy K. Priest doubled the building's size, and accessibility improvements in 1997–1999 added a ramp and elevator. Today the library offers free Wi-Fi, an online Biblionix catalog, children's and adult programming, and a Little Free Library at Iron Foundry Park, serving Grafton County's small but vibrant mountain community.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened December 11, 1912 — commissioned by Colonel Charles H. Greenleaf and designed by Boston architect W. H. McLean in Romanesque style
- Named for Abbie Frances Burnham Greenleaf (1841–1914), a Daughter of the American Revolution and devoted Franconia community benefactor
- Interior features stained-glass windows, mahogany woodwork, and a handcrafted mosaic floor modeled after Boston's State House
- Doubled in size by a 1971 addition (Lucy K. Priest Fund); accessibility ramp and elevator added 1997–1999
- Open six days a week including Saturday mornings; Little Free Library maintained at Iron Foundry Park
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Abbie Greenleaf cardholders can borrow and stream free through New Hampshire's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Circulating books, audiobooks, DVDs and magazines
- Free Wi-Fi in the library
- Biblionix online catalog with holds and renewals
- Interlibrary loan through the NH State Library Network
- Little Free Library at Iron Foundry Park for 24/7 book exchange
- Reference assistance from trained library staff
🎸 Programs
- Minecraft Monday — 3 pm
- Story Time — Tuesdays 11 am (children's)
- Meditation — Tuesdays noon
- Summer reading challenge for children and adults
- Ice cream social and seasonal community events
📍 Nearby Libraries in the White Mountains Region
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Franconia · Browse all New Hampshire libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Abbie Greenleaf, and why is the library named for her?
Abbie Frances Burnham Greenleaf (1841–1914) was the first wife of Colonel Charles H. Greenleaf, a local benefactor who funded the library building in her memory. Born in Vermont, she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, deeply committed to Franconia's community and charitable causes, and loved the White Mountains. Colonel Greenleaf commissioned the building — which opened December 11, 1912 — as a lasting tribute to her.
What makes the Abbie Greenleaf Library building architecturally special?
The 1912 building, designed by Boston architect W. H. McLean, features a Romanesque design with stained-glass windows, mahogany woodwork, and a handcrafted mosaic floor modeled after the floor in Boston's State House — remarkable details for a small-town library. The original three-room structure (reading room, stack room, and vestibule) was doubled in size by a 1971 addition, and a ramp and elevator were added in 1997–1999.
What are the library's hours?
The library is open Monday and Wednesday 1–5:30 pm; Tuesday and Thursday 10 am–1 pm; Friday noon–3 pm; and Saturday 10 am–1 pm. It is closed on Sunday. Hours can be subject to holiday changes — call (603) 823-8424 or check abbielibrary.org before visiting.
Is there a library outside the building for when it's closed?
Yes — the library maintains a Little Free Library at Iron Foundry Park in Franconia, available any time for book exchange. Take a book, leave a book, or simply browse the selection whenever the main library is closed.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.