2022 Community Conversations: Civics

The Goffstown Public Library Community Conversations series is designed to help us understand issues affecting our community and provide a starting point to open up conversations. Community Conversations bring together resources, experts, and concerned community members to discuss complicated issues in a gracious, safe space.

The 2022 Community Conversations focus is Civics. We will investigate how citizens can and should work together to solve public problems. Our series of programs will include book discussions, trivia, events in partnership with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College and the Geisel Library at Saint Anselm College, along with empowering explorations and conversations about how we the people can and should steer the ship of our democracy.

For more information, please contact Goffstown Public Library Director, Dianne Hathaway, at 603-497-2102, or email.

Schedule of Events

For virtual events, registration is required. All virtual events will be held via Microsoft Teams and once registered, all participants will receive an email link to join the discussions.

All pre-recorded video presentations will appear on our YouTube channel.

February

Adult

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 6:30 pm - Evening Book Discussion - The Upswing by Robert Putnam, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; the audio book is available with your library card through hoopladigital.com and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 7 pm - Town Deliberative Session at Mountain View Middle School followed by Select Board meeting and Budget Committee meeting. Contact the Goffstown Town Clerk's office, 603-497-8990, ext. 100, for details.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7 pm - How to Have Difficult Conversations with James McKim, managing partner of Organizational Ignition and president of the Manchester NAACP.
Monday, February 21, 2022 at 10 am - NHIOP: Commemorating the U.S. Presidency, in partnership with the NH Institute of Politics and Saint Anselm's Geisel Library at Saint Anselm College.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7 pm - Candidate's Night at Goffstown High School with Goffstown Lions Club. View the recording of the Candidate's Night event.

Teen

Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 11 am - Civics Trivia: Federal, State, and Municipal at the Goffstown Public Library. Registration required.

Kids

Month of February - Share the Love - Stop by the Children's Room to create a card, draw a picture or make a bookmark for someone in our community such as nursing home residents, community helpers or residents who receive home service from the Library.
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 9:30 am - Story Time theme is "Voting" at the Library, for families with children up through grade 5.

March

Adult

Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 11 am - The Secret Sauce of Civic Life at Goffstown Historical Society with Dr. Quixada Moore-Vissing, a University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy Fellow with New Hampshire Listens. Registration required.
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7 am - 2022 Town and School Election, at Bartlett Elementary School or Goffstown High School. Register to vote and find out more at the Goffstown Town Clerk's office, 603-497-8990, ext. 100.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 1:30 pm - Afternoon Book Discussion - The Upswing by Robert Putnam, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; e-audiobook is available with your library card through hoopladigital.com and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.
Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6 pm - The Upswing: Author Event at New Hampshire Institute of Politics with Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett. Registration is required with Saint Anselm College.

Teen

Month of March - The Ultimate iCivics BINGO Bonanza - Pick up your BINGO board at the Goffstown Public Library.
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 11 am - Teen Book Discussion - Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone, at the Goffstown Public Library. Please read the book before the discussion; online access is available with your library card through the Libby app and print copies will be available to borrow at the Library.

Kids

Month of March - Community Picture Book Read for children up through grade 5. Read one or more of the preselected civics-themed picture books and complete related activities to participate in a raffle drawing at the end of the month.
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 9:30 am - Story Time theme is "Community Helpers" at the Library, for families with children up through grade 5.