Barrington Public Library
🏢 NH Downloadable Books Consortium · Barrington, New Hampshire
Barrington Public Library
Barrington Public Library has been at the center of this Strafford County town since 1880, when residents appropriated $250 and donated more than 2,000 books to launch the town's first free library. Now at 426 Calef Highway, it offers museum passes, notary service, Libby e-books, and a lively year-round program calendar for all ages.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 426 Calef Highway, Barrington, NH 03825
Phone: (603) 664-9715
Website: barringtonlibrary.com
Plus Code: 87MC6X97+JQ (Barrington, NH)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Barrington Public Library
Public library service in Barrington traces its roots to 1795, when Major Isaac Waldron hosted a town meeting that formed the Barrington Social Library — a membership library strong on history and theology (fiction was not permitted). That society served the town for about twenty years before gradually fading. The modern era began in 1880 when the Town of Barrington appropriated $250 for its first official free library; residents responded by donating more than 2,000 books, and librarian Isaac Cady added 212 new purchases, this time including fiction. In 1888 the town built a new Town Hall that housed the library alongside town offices and the high school. The library later moved to the renovated Leander R. Peck School building in 1984 and subsequently to its current home at 426 Calef Highway. Today the Barrington Public Library is an active community hub in Strafford County offering museum pass lending, notary and exam proctoring services, Libby digital borrowing, and a full roster of book clubs, children's programs, and community groups.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1880 when the town appropriated $250 and residents donated 2,000+ books — the modern successor to the 1795 Barrington Social Library
- Museum passes and reimbursement program for local and regional cultural venues
- Notary service and exam proctoring available to the public
- Active community programming: multiple book clubs, chess, mahjong, LEGO club, fiber arts & cooking
- Libby / OverDrive digital borrowing through the NH Downloadable Books consortium
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Barrington cardholders can borrow digitally and research online through New Hampshire's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Museum passes & reimbursement for local and regional venues
- Notary service (free for patrons)
- Exam proctoring
- Public computers, printing, faxing & scanning
- Interlibrary loan
- Meeting room rentals
- Technology assistance
🎸 Programs
- Multiple book clubs — daytime, suspense society, book-to-film & children's
- Chess club, mahjong group & LEGO club
- Fiber arts group & cooking club
- Children's story time & family programs
- CPR/AED training and community health events
- Senior social circle, meditation group & veterans coffee hour
- Summer reading program for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Strafford County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Barrington · Browse all New Hampshire libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Barrington Public Library get started?
The modern library dates to 1880, when the Town of Barrington appropriated $250 for its first free public library. Residents rallied by donating more than 2,000 books, and librarian Isaac Cady purchased 212 more — crucially including fiction, which the town's earlier 1795 Barrington Social Library had prohibited. The 1888 Town Hall gave the library a proper home alongside other municipal offices, and it has served Barrington ever since.
Does Barrington Public Library offer museum passes or notary service?
Yes to both. The library's museum passes and reimbursement program lets cardholders borrow passes for free or reduced-cost admission to local and regional cultural venues. Free notary service is also available to all patrons, along with exam proctoring. Call (603) 664-9715 or visit barringtonlibrary.com to check availability and make arrangements.
What digital borrowing options does the library offer?
The library participates in the NH Downloadable Books consortium, so cardholders can borrow e-books and audiobooks using the Libby app at no cost. Additional digital magazines, streaming media, and research databases are also available with a Barrington card.
What community programs does the library host?
The library runs a full program calendar including multiple book clubs (daytime, suspense society, book-to-film, children's), a chess club, mahjong, a LEGO club, a fiber arts group, a cooking club, and regular children's story times. There are also community health programs (CPR/AED training), a senior social circle, meditation group, veterans coffee hour, and summer reading for all ages.
🎨 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.