Why Democracy?
Wednesday, March 25th at 5:30PM
Location: Old Webster Courthouse, 1 Court St.
A NH Humanities-to-go Program presented by Joshua Duclos, co-sponsored with the Plymouth Historical Society.
Democracy is taken to be an obvious good. It often seems like the one thing we can agree on in a political debate. After all, only dictators and fools question the value of democracy…right? And yet, the value of democracy has been challenged again and again throughout history. Great philosophers from Plato to Confucius thought it was a terrible idea, and many contemporary Western political theorists have speculated that democracy may not be as useful or moral as we suppose. For those who believe in the value of democracy (its efficacy and its morality), it is important to analyze, articulate, and explore the arguments in which democracy is grounded. This talk will do three things: (1) explain what democracy is; (2) explain why serious historical and contemporary thinkers have distrusted democracy; and (3) explore the best contemporary arguments in favor of democracy.
Dr. Josh Duclos is the 1923 Chair of Humanities at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH. He earned a MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago and a PhD in philosophy from Boston University. A former Fulbright scholar, he is the author of numerous articles in moral and political philosophy and one book: Wilderness, Morality, and Value (Lexington, 2022).
Basics of AI part 1
Thursday, March 26th at 4:30PM
Join us for a Technology Workshop on the basics of AI part 1. In this series we will be cutting through the hype to bring you a clear understanding of how these powerful tools work. This is a must-attend for anyone curious about the mechanics behind the technology shaping our world.
**Registration is required.
Mindfulness Series: Stress Balls!
Friday, March 27th at 3:30PM
Take a break and relax with our Mindfulness Series! Join Faye in the Community Room to make your own stress ball! Open to Ages 5-12.
**Registration is required.
Easter Egg Hunt!
Saturday, March 28th at 10-2PM
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Pease in our Children’s Room. 10-10:45AM is designated for littles under the age of 4, and then will be open for all ages after!
Magic the Gathering Club
Monday, March 30th at 4PM
Test your skills against your fellow sorcerers and join Faye in the Community Room for Magic: The Gathering Club! Open to ages 12-19. All skill levels are welcome!
Teen Cryptid Society
Wednesday, April 1st at 4PM
Ever wonder what’s lurking just beyond your periphery? Join the Cryptid Society, where every month we’ll learn about a new supernatural creature, while doing crafts and trying to spot the Loch Ness Monster.
Spiral Songs Kids; Singing with the Seasons
Thursday, April 2nd & Saturday April 4th at 11AM
Songs and Sing-Along’s for the whole family! Join Spiral Songs for music celebrating Spring and awakening our senses to the natural world in our Children’s Room. Approximately 45min and open to all ages.
Adult Morning Meditation
Friday, April 3rd at 11AM
Connect with us in the Community Room for a morning meditation. To ensure everyone’s comfort, please bring your own yoga mat. We’ll have a few extra on hand, first come first served.
T(w)een Learn-to-Play Board Games!
Friday, April 3rd at 4PM
Join Faye for a monthly hang out where we learn to play a board game. This month’s is Jumanji the Board Game!
Redcoats & Rebels
Saturday, April 4th at 10:30AM
A NH Humanities-to-Go program presented by Mary Adams, co-sponsored with the Pemigewasset Valley Chapter DAR and the Plymouth Historical Society.
New Hampshire often gets overlooked in the narrative of the American Revolution, overshadowed by its noisy neighbor to the south. Nowadays, few people know about Paul Revere’s first ride, which was to Portsmouth in December 1774 to warn the patriots that the British were coming to reinforce Fort William and Mary, five months before the Redcoats marched on Concord and Lexington. Nor do they know that two-thirds of the troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill were from New Hampshire. Most people are also unaware that New Hampshire’s Provincial Congress adopted the first state constitution in January 1776, making no mention of royal authority and essentially declaring independence from Great Britain six months before anyone else. And this is just the beginning of New Hampshire’s revolutionary story.
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Mary has always loved surrounding herself with history. Her passion for storytelling led her to become a tour guide at various locations, including San Francisco, Boston, and her favorite, Glacier National Park. Her work as an interpreter for the National Park Service further honed her skills. Currently, Mary serves as Operations Manager for The Pursuit of History Weekends, where she coordinates specially curated, one-of-a-kind experiences aimed at inspiring broader public engagement with history. She is also on staff at the New Hampshire Historical Society, where she has played a pivotal role in presenting the Granite State Stories programs for HTG in 2023 and 2024. Mary narrates many of the Society’s video productions, including virtual field trips for children, and delivers workshops for adult audiences on organizing cemetery tours and scavenger hunts. Additionally, she trains the Society’s museum educators, ensuring high-quality learning experiences for visitors of all ages.
Baby Sensory Stations
Monday, April 6th at 10AM
Join us for an hour of sensory stimulation for your baby! We will have five separate stations to explore, as well as plenty of room to crawl or toddle or walk. Open to ages 0-3 and their caregivers.
Book Buddies
Wednesday, April 8th & 22nd at 3:30PM
Come read to Jack! Jack is a registered therapy dog and will be coming to the children’s room (with his handler) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Reading to Jack is a great way for struggling and reluctant readers to build confidence and for shy kids to talk in a non-judgmental space.
Technology Workshop: Basics of AI pt. 2
Thursday, April 9th at 10AM
Join us for a Technology Workshop on the basics of AI part 2. In this series we will be cutting through the hype to bring you a clear understanding of how these powerful tools work. This is a must-attend for anyone curious about the mechanics behind the technology shaping our world.
**Registration is required.
Nursery Rhyme Sing-Along
Monday, April 13th at 10AM
Join Faye for a half-hour of musical fun for babies! Introduce your baby to early literacy and musical skills as we sing through a few nursery rhymes! Open to ages 0-3 and their caregivers.
Magic the Gathering Club
Monday, April 13th at 4PM
Test your skills against your fellow sorcerers and join Faye in the Community Room for Magic: The Gathering Club! Open to ages 12-19. All skill levels are welcome!
Everyone’s Trash Book Discussion
Wednesday, April 15th at 12PM
One Man, 1.6 Billion Pounds of Stories. Dive into the “hilarious and heartwarming” world of waste management with us. Join our upcoming discussion on Duncan Watson’s memoir, Everyone’s Trash, which explores the humorous and heartfelt side of waste management and recycling through stories from his 33-year career in Keene, New Hampshire. Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.
Read to a Seed
Wednesday, April 15th at 3:30PM
“Now seeds, start growing!” – Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel
Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning our Community Garden! Come in and choose a crop to grow, and give it a nice home for the Spring! Then, stick around for a special storytime where we read to our seeds! Open to grades K-3. Registration required.
April Artist Reception: Ed Van Dorn & Hannes Kruger
Thursday, April 16th at 6PM
Friends and local artists, Ed Van Dorn and Hannes Kruger are teaming up to showcase works that capture the glory of the New Hampshire landscape.
Please join Ed & Hannes at the Pease Public Library for an Artist Reception, generously funded by the Young Ladies Library Association on Thursday, April 16th at 6pm.
Teen Writing Club
Friday, April 17th at 4PM
Calling all writers! Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, join Faye in the YLLA Room for Creative Writing Club. This is a chill, low-stakes environment to hang out, workshop your writing, and learn from your community!
Adult Board Game Night
Thursday, April 23rd at 5PM
Adults can join us in the YLLA room for our first board game night featuring The Quacks of Quedlinburg. Registration is required, with limited space of up to four people!
In The Quacks of Quedlinburg, players are charlatans — or quack doctors — each making their own secret brew by adding ingredients one at a time. Take care with what you add, though, for a pinch too much of this or that will spoil the whole mixture!
Magic the Gathering Club
Monday, April 27th at 4PM
Test your skills against your fellow sorcerers and join Faye in the Community Room for Magic: The Gathering Club! Open to ages 12-19. All skill levels are welcome!
Video Game Vacation
Monday, April 27th – Saturday May 2, during business hours
Need something to do on those rainy April days? Come play video games at the library! We’ll have a Nintendo Switch on loan from the New Hampshire Video Game Library, as well as several fun, multi-player games. Ages 12-19.
Register in person or call the library.