Dover Public Library
🏢 City of Dover · Dover, New Hampshire
Dover Public Library
Dover's public library since 1905, housed in one of only ten Carnegie library buildings in New Hampshire, reopened at 73 Locust Street in June 2026 after a $7.1 million historic renovation — and stays open until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 73 Locust Street, Dover, NH 03820
Phone: (603) 516-6050
Website: dover.nh.gov
Plus Code: 87MF54VF+5F (Dover, NH)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Dover Public Library
The Dover Public Library serves New Hampshire's oldest permanent settlement, a Seacoast mill city on the Cocheco River. Its home is a 1905 Carnegie library — one of just ten Carnegie buildings in the state — whose historic front façade and interior woodwork were carefully preserved during a year-long, $7.1 million restoration that closed the building from January 2025 until it reopened on June 26, 2026. The renovation added an accessible main entrance with an elevator, an expanded Children's Library with imaginative play areas, a dedicated second-floor teen space, restored hardwood floors in the Historical and Trustee rooms, and a Community Room converted from the former lecture hall. Operated by the City of Dover, the library lends across the New Hampshire statewide interlibrary loan network and gives cardholders free access to shared digital collections.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Housed in a 1905 Carnegie library building — one of only ten Carnegie libraries in New Hampshire
- Reopened June 26, 2026 after a year-long, $7.1 million historic renovation with a new accessible entrance and elevator
- Expanded Children's Library with imaginative play areas plus a dedicated second-floor teen space
- Museum passes, notary service, meeting rooms and a makerspace available to cardholders
- Open late until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for after-work and after-school visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Dover cardholders can stream, download and research free through New Hampshire's shared collections:
📚 Services
- Museum passes to regional museums and attractions
- Notary public service
- Makerspace access
- Meeting-room and Community Room rentals
- Genealogy and local-history research (Dover historical images & records)
- Ask a Librarian reference help
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and summer reading
- Teen programming in the new second-floor teen area
- Adult author and Presidential lecture series
- Genealogy and local-history workshops
- Community Room events and meetings
📍 Nearby Libraries in Strafford County & Seacoast NH
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Dover · Browse all New Hampshire libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dover Public Library open again after its renovation?
Yes. The library closed its 1905 Carnegie building at 73 Locust Street in January 2025 for a $7.1 million restoration and temporarily operated from the McConnell Center next door. It reopened at 73 Locust Street on June 26, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting and open house, and has resumed regular hours.
What is special about the Dover Public Library building?
It is a 1905 Carnegie library — one of only ten Carnegie library buildings in New Hampshire. The recent renovation preserved the historic front façade and the wood detailing throughout while adding an accessible main entrance with an elevator, an expanded Children's Library, a dedicated teen space, and a Community Room.
Which evenings is the library open late?
The library stays open until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday is 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; the library is closed on Sunday under its regular schedule.
Can I borrow ebooks and movies with a Dover library card?
Yes. A Dover Public Library card gives you free access to Libby (New Hampshire's OverDrive collection provided by the NH State Library) for eBooks and audiobooks, hoopla for movies, music and comics with no waitlists, and Kanopy for thoughtful films and The Great Courses.
🎨 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 has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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