Request books from other libraries with our Interlibrary Loan Request service. Visit us at 46 N Main St, Washington, NH, for more details. First Name Last Name Email Book Title Author Message Send Thanks for submitting! Interlibrary Loan Request

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

Visit our Help Center for all library inquiries at 46 N Main St, Washington, NH. Get assistance with library resources and services today! Help Center How to Use the Libby App for Ebooks and Audio Books and Magazines Libby Support Page Listen to Audio Books (Free) Listen to Audiobooks ($) Sites Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from your local library for free! Libby is the newer library reading app by OverDrive. Getting Started with the Libby App Step 1 Download or open Libby on your device: iOS devices: Apple App Store Android devices: Google Play Amazon Fire tablets: Amazon Appstore Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks: libbyapp.com Note: libbyapp.com works best in up-to-date versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. Step 2 In Libby, follow the prompts to find your library and sign in with a library card. **Enter the Library Code 4170 and your library card # without spaces. You will need a 4 digit pin number. Call or Email us to receive your pin #. Step 3 Browse your library's catalog and borrow a title. Your selection will vary based on your library, since each library chooses what titles and formats to offer in Libby. Step 4 Borrowed titles appear on your shelf, in the navigation footer and download to the app automatically when you're connected to Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you're offline. On your Shelf, tap loans at the top of the screen. From there, you can: Tap Read With... to choose where you'd like to read the book (Kindle or Libby), then finish sending to Kindle (U.S. libraries only) or start reading in Libby. Tap Open In Libby, Open Magazine, or Open Audiobook to start reading or listening in the app. Tap Manage Loan to see options like Renew and Return. Happy reading!

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

Discover the latest updates and events at Shedd Free Library on our Facebook Page. Stay connected with Shedd Free Library in Washington, NH. Shedd Free Library Facebook Page

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