Madbury Public Library
🏢 Town of Madbury · Madbury, New Hampshire
Madbury Public Library
Born from a town-meeting vote in 2001 and housed since December 2019 in a Placework-designed, AIA NH Merit Award-winning building beside Town Hall, Madbury Public Library is the civic heart of one of New Hampshire's most rural Seacoast communities.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–7pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 11 Town Hall Road, Madbury, NH 03823
Phone: (603) 743-1400
Website: madburylibrary.org
Plus Code: 87MF5385+RV (Madbury, NH)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Madbury Public Library
Madbury Public Library opened in 2001 after residents voted at town meeting to establish a library from scratch — beginning in a closet at Town Hall. By 2003 it had moved to a ranch house at 9 Town Hall Road, amassed a collection of over 14,000 items, and was recording more than 5,500 annual visits. In December 2019, it moved into a purpose-built 3,750-square-foot building at 11 Town Hall Road, designed by Placework Architecture and built by Chapman Construction. The building's large windows frame forest views and walking trail access, and its super-insulated envelope earned it a Plan NH Merit Award (2020) and an AIA New Hampshire Merit Award (2021). The library participates in the New Hampshire Automated Information System (NHAIS) and the NH Downloadable Books consortium, giving cardholders access to thousands of titles across the state.
⭐ What makes this library special
- New purpose-built building opened December 8, 2019 — 3,750 sq ft, Placework-designed, AIA NH Merit Award 2021 winner
- No overdue fines — items renewed once on a 3-week loan period; declared lost only after 3 months
- Museum passes: Bedrock Gardens, Children's Museum of NH, Seacoast Science Center, NH State Parks, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center & Strawbery Banke
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library: free monthly books for children birth–age 5 in Madbury, Durham & Lee
- Outdoor Nature Play Space and Story Trail on library grounds
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Madbury cardholders can borrow and stream free through New Hampshire's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Interlibrary loan via NHAIS statewide system (patron-initiated at nhais.agshareit.com or staff-assisted)
- Museum passes: Bedrock Gardens, Children's Museum of NH, Seacoast Science Center, NH State Parks, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Strawbery Banke
- Free library cards for Madbury residents and Oyster River School District students/teachers; non-resident cards $30/year
- No overdue fines (items declared lost after 3 months)
- Two meeting rooms: Small Meeting Room and Community Room
- Telescope lending (NH Astronomical Society Library Telescope Program)
- Outdoor Nature Play Space (year-round)
- Story Trail on library grounds
🎸 Programs
- Baby & Toddler Story Time (ages 0–24 months) — Mondays at 9:15 AM
- Preschool Story Time (ages 2–5) — Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 AM
- Baby & Toddler Yoga — Wednesdays at 10:00 AM (five-week certified-instructor sessions)
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library — free monthly books for children birth–age 5
- Adult Book Discussion Group
- Adult Writing Group
- Quilting Group
- Summer Reading Program
- NH Humanities Council community programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Strafford County & Seacoast NH
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Madbury · Browse all New Hampshire libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Madbury Public Library serve residents from nearby Durham and UNH?
Madbury residents receive free library cards. Residents of other towns — including Durham and the wider UNH community — can get a non-resident card for $30 per year. Oyster River School District students and teachers (from Durham, Lee, and Madbury) also qualify for free cards. Because Madbury borders Durham, the library sees many ORCSD families who use both libraries.
When did the current library building open, and what makes it unique?
The current 3,750-square-foot building at 11 Town Hall Road opened December 8, 2019. Designed by Placework Architecture and built by Chapman Construction, it was sited to reinforce Madbury's town center alongside Town Hall, the elementary school, and playing fields. It features a super-insulated envelope, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and large windows overlooking forest trails — earning a Plan NH Merit Award (2020) and an AIA New Hampshire Merit Award (2021).
What are the library's hours, and is it open on weekends?
The library is open Monday and Wednesday 10 AM–7 PM, Thursday 10 AM–5 PM, and Saturday 10 AM–2 PM. It is closed Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. These limited hours reflect the library's small-town, community character — calling ahead at (603) 743-1400 before your first visit is always a good idea.
Can I borrow items from other New Hampshire libraries through Madbury?
Yes. Madbury participates in the New Hampshire Automated Information System (NHAIS) interlibrary loan network, covering over 90% of NH public, school, and academic libraries. Patrons can search the statewide catalog at nhais.agshareit.com and request items to be delivered to the library at no charge.
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