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Hollis Social Library

2 Monument Square, Hollis, NH

Incorporated by the General Court of the State of New Hampshire in 1799, the Hollis Social Library is one of the first public libraries in New Hampshire.

Beginning as an association, open to members for an initial fee of $2.00 and annual dues of 50 cents, its 300-book collection moved from place to place until 1851 when the collection was installed in a room of the Congregational Meeting House. In 1879, the library was sold to the Town of Hollis for $1.00, becoming one of the first public libraries in New Hampshire.

In the first decade of the 20th century, a committee headed by Franklin Worcester raised $13,500 for a new building and land in the center of Hollis, owned by Mr. Worcester, was deeded to the town for “the purpose of locating and sustaining a Public Library.” In 1910 a Greek-Revival building, designed by the Boston firm Magee & Rowe, opened on the site where the library has stood for more than 100 years. An addition was added in 1993.

The library provides over 47,000 items to the residents of Hollis and offers a variety of educational, informational, and entertaining programs.