Join our Book Club at 46 N Main St, Washington, NH. Discover new reads and connect with fellow book lovers at our welcoming library. September's Book Club Selection October's Book Club Selection Click Here to Take the Survey 2026 Book Club Selections A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline ( January 2026) I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (February 2026) Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff (March 2026) Wedding People by Alison Espach (April 2026) James (May 2026) Tom Lake by Ann Patchett) (June 2026) Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper (July 2026) Catch of the Day by Virginia K. Bennett( August 2026) Book Lovers Emily Henry (September 2026) The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan (October 2026) The Measure, by Nikki Erlick (November 2026) No book club in December June 2027 The Correspondent Click here to see a list of our past, present and future book club selections.

Discover Shedd Free Library at 46 N Main St, Washington, NH. Explore our vast collection and enjoy a cozy reading environment. Visit Shedd Free Library today! Welcome to Shedd Free Library Tuesdays 10-5 Thursdays 10-4 Saturdays 10-1 Subscribe Form Subscribe to our newsletter or contact us via email. Join Thanks for subscribing!

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A library catalog is an important tool within the library as it contains the bibliographic information of all materials which a library holds. Online Catalog Explore everything the Shedd Free Library has to offer. Our user-friendly online catalog makes it simple to search for titles, place holds, and pick up your selections whenever it’s convenient for you. Our collection spans fiction, non-fiction, biography, cookbooks, DVDs, and more. Our knowledgeable staff is always available to help you find the materials you need for your research, or the perfect book to read over the weekend. Search Here Why buy when you can borrow? Don’t Buy It—Borrow It! Got a mess? Borrow our rug cleaner or wet vac. Hosting a bake sale? We have the cake pans. Starting a DIY gift? Check out our sewing machines. From canning supplies to mobile hotspots, your library card is now the most useful tool in your kit. Library of Things Need to reserve a book through the state's inter-library loan system? The New Hampshire State Library (NHAIS) Interlibrary Loan System allows libraries across the state to borrow materials from each other on behalf of their patrons. Complete This Form to Reserve Your Book Check Out Our Seed List Here

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Discover the rich history of Shedd Free Library, a cornerstone of Washington, NH for 157 years. Explore our 145-year-old building's story. Our History Shedd Free Library 157 years 1869-2026 Shedd Free Library Building 145 years 1881-2026 The Heart of Our Community Sarah Shedd was born in Washington, New Hampshire, in 1813 to John and Lydia Shedd, the second of four children. Her mother, Lydia, was a Farnsworth—a name long associated with the early history of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Washington. One of Sarah's cousins, William Farnsworth, was a founder of that church. She had many relatives in town. Sarah received her education under the guidance of Mary Lyon at Holyoke Seminary, now Mount Holyoke College. At just 15, she began teaching school in Washington. Two years later, her father passed away, leaving Sarah, her mother, and her three siblings to manage on their own. By the age of 20, her older sister had married and moved west, and her younger sister had died. With her mother and younger brother depending on her, Sarah moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, to work in the textile mills. Mill work offered a steady income, though it demanded long hours and exposed workers to difficult conditions. Despite these hardships, life in Lowell also offered cultural and social opportunities—concerts, museums, lectures, and shops—that were unavailable in rural Washington. Sarah spent most of her adult life working in the textile mills of Lowell and later Salem, returning to Washington each summer to care for her mother and teach school to local children. She loved reading and writing poetry, often composing poems as gifts for friends and contributing to factory publications during her limited free time. She worked in the mills for 25 years, managing to save about $2 per week—at a time when buying a single book could cost a full week's savings. At the age of 45, she left the mill work and returned to Washington to care for her aging mother, who passed away shortly after. Sarah herself died less than ten years later, in 1867, at the age of 54. She never married. Upon her death, Sarah left a bequest of $2,500 to the town of Washington, requesting that the funds be used to establish a town library. She is remembered for her cheerful self-sacrifice, her unwavering dedication to her family, and her kind spirit. Sarah believed that the greatest gift she could give her hometown was a library—a place where books could be shared freely with all. The town acted quickly to honor her wishes. In 1869 a library committee was formed, and its first action was to name the institution the Shedd Free Library. The library opened on October 30, 1869 with 292 books. It was initially housed in temporary quarters throughout the town. In 1881, Lumen Jefts, a former Washington resident who had found success, donated the town’s only Victorian-style building to serve as the library’s permanent home. By then, the collection had grown to over 2,000 books. To this day, the Shedd Free Library continues to serve the community of Washington, just as Sarah Shedd envisioned. Information from Rumors of Sainthood: Sarah Shedd of Washington by Ronald Jager

Discover Shedd Free Library's mission, vision, and volunteer info. Learn about our policies and how you can contribute to our community. Mission and Vision Statements MISSION STATEMENT To foster a vibrant and inclusive community, our small rural library is committed to serving as a dynamic hub of learning, creativity, and connection. Through innovative programs and resources tailored to all ages, we aim to empower individuals, enrich lives, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. VISION STATEMENT Our vision is to be the heart of our rural community, where individuals of all ages come together to explore, discover, and grow. By providing and supporting a welcoming, nurturing environment, we strive to inspire curiosity, encourage creativity, and ignite a passion for an enduring pursuit of knowledge. Shedd Free Library Policies See Manual Here At Shedd Free Library, we take pride in offering community members a welcoming space where they can access an extensive range of resources, both physical and digital. Our collection development policy ensures that we have the latest books, magazines, and other materials to cater to the evolving information needs of our patrons. We are passionate about connecting people with the resources they need to learn, grow and succeed. Come and visit us to learn more about our services. Volunteer Information Volunteering is vital to the health of our library and our community, and your support enhances the delivery of much needed library services for youth and adults. Volunteer Policy Volunteer Application

Listen to audiobooks for free using Libby or Amazon! Discover how to access a vast library of audiobooks at 46 N Main St, Washington, NH. Listen to Audiobooks for Free Using Libby or Amazon To listen to audiobooks for free using Libby or Amazon, you typically need a library card and access to their respective platforms. Here's how you can listen to audiobooks for free using Libby or Amazon: Listening to Audiobooks with Libby: 1. Download Libby App: - First, download the Libby app on your smartphone or tablet from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices). 2. Sign In: - Open the Libby app and sign in using your library card information. If you haven't already signed up for Libby, you can find your local library and sign up for a library card through the app. Libby accounts for the Shedd Free Library start with 4170 followed by your library card number. You can receive your personal PIN # by contacting the library. 3. Browse and Borrow: - Once signed in, you can browse the audiobook collection available at your local library. - When you find an audiobook you're interested in, you can borrow it with a tap. Borrowed audiobooks are automatically added to your shelf. 4. Listen to Audiobooks: - To listen to your borrowed audiobooks, go to your shelf in the Libby app. - Tap on the audiobook you want to listen to, and then tap "Listen" to start playback. - You can control playback speed, set bookmarks, and adjust other settings while listening to audiobooks. 5. Return Borrowed Audiobooks: - Audiobooks are automatically returned at the end of the lending period, so you don't have to worry about late fees. Amazon Prime Reading: If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you have access to Prime Reading, which includes a selection of free ebooks and audiobooks. Here's how to access free audiobooks through Prime Reading: 1. Visit the Prime Reading Page: - Go to the Prime Reading page on Amazon's website. 2. Browse Audiobook Selection: - Look for the audiobook titles available for free with Prime Reading. You can filter the selection by genre, author, or other categories. 3. Select and Borrow: - Once you find an audiobook you're interested in, click on it to view the details. - If it's available for free with Prime Reading, you should see an option to borrow it for free. 4. Access the Audiobook: - After borrowing the audiobook, you can access it through the Kindle app or compatible devices with the Kindle app installed. Free Audiobooks in the Public Domain: Amazon also offers a selection of classic books that are in the public domain and available for free. Many of these books have audiobook versions that you can access for free. Here's how to find them: 1. Search for Public Domain Audiobooks: - Use the search bar on Amazon's website or app to search for specific public domain audiobooks. - Include terms like "public domain audiobooks" or the title of the classic book you're looking for. 2. Filter by Format and Price: - After searching, use the filters on the left-hand side of the page to narrow down the results. - Look for options to filter by "Format" and select "Audiobook" to see audiobook versions. - You can also filter by price to show only free audiobooks. 3. Download or Stream: - Once you find a free public domain audiobook you're interested in, you can download it to your device or stream it directly from the Amazon website or app.

Explore Shedd Free Library Trustees meetings and notes. Stay updated with Shedd Free Library Trustees events and connect with us in Washington, NH. Shedd Free Library Trustees Peggy Carney -Chair Martha Robertson- Secretary Kim Kapteyn -Treasurer Becky Dulac (Alternate) Bernadette Aubin (Alternate) June Doyal (Alternate) SFL Trustee Bylaws Meeting Notes- 2025 Meeting Notes 2026 Library Trustees Meeting January 17, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting January 7, 2026 Library Trustees Meeting February 19, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting January 16, 2026 Library Trustees Meeting March 27, 2026 Library Trustees Meeting March 14, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting May 8 , 2026 Library Trustees Meeting May 16, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting August 16, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting June 26 , 2026 Library Trustees Meeting October 10, 2025 Library Trustees Meeting July 31 , 2026 Library Trustees Meeting November 14, 2025 Meeting Notes - 2023 Meeting Notes - 2024 Library Trustees Meeting December 7, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting October 31, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting October 24, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting October 12, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting September 12, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting May 16, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting March 7, 2023 Library Trustees Meeting September 13, 2024 Library Trustees Meeting June 26, 2024 Library Trustees Meeting April 29, 2024 Library Trustees Meeting April 2, 2024 Library Trustees Meeting February 1, 2024 Contact Library Trustees' Chairperson Mrs. Peggy Carney Chairperson-Email

Discover the mission of Friends of the Library in Washington, NH. Learn how our group supports the library and community. Join us today! 2026-2027 President CeCe Kendrick Vice President Jim Aborn Secretary Kathy Shea Treasurer Deb Benoit Mission Statement Our mission is to enhance and sustain the Shedd Free Library as a vital resource for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and community engagement in partnership with the Town of Washington, New Hampshire. By Laws What is a Friends of the Library Group? Friends of the Library groups are volunteer-driven, non-profit organizations that support local libraries through fundraising, and volunteerism. They enhance library services by funding special projects, books, and programming, acting as a crucial link between the library and the community. Key purposes and activities include: Fundraising: Conducting book sales and managing membership dues to support materials, equipment, and services that fall outside the library’s operating budget. Programming & Support: Sponsoring events, programs, and providing volunteers for special projects, such as summer reading programs. Community Engagement: Promoting the library’s image, building community partnerships, and fostering a welcoming environment. These independent groups (often structured with 501(c)(3) status) serve as advocates, particularly during budget challenges or when seeking grants. Contact FOL President CeCe Kendrick cecekendrick57@gmail.com

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