Renovation & Expansion

Ceremonial Groundbreaking Celebration — October 7, 2026

It was a beautiful day for a celebration as Whitefield Public Library welcomed community members, supporters, and special guests for the ceremonial groundbreaking of our Library renovation and expansion project on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Although construction officially began in August, the ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize the tremendous community support and years of planning, fundraising, and dedication that have helped bring this exciting project to life.

We were honored to welcome Chuck Henderson from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen's office, New Hampshire Executive Council member Joe Kenney, Mindy Atwood from the New Hampshire State Library, Ben Gaetjens-Olsen from CDFA, and Scott Black and Mike Lee representing the Town.

The celebration also brought together children, Library patrons, current and former board members, and members of Whitefield's Official Library Friends (WOLF). Their presence reflected the community spirit that has made this project possible.

Building More Than a Library

The renovation and expansion represents much more than an addition to a historic building. It is an investment in the future of Whitefield and the surrounding communities. The project will add approximately 4,000 square feet to the Library, creating opportunities to expand programs, improve accessibility, and provide spaces that better accommodate the diverse needs of patrons.

The expanded Library will feature improved accessibility throughout the building, including an elevator, redesigned children's spaces, additional quiet seating, accessible book collections, flexible meeting areas, a Maker's Space and Business Center, and private rooms for studying, job interviews, and telehealth appointments.

These improvements will allow WPL to continue serving as a welcoming place for education, creativity, connection, and community engagement. As we look toward the future, our goal remains simple: to create a Library that truly offers something for everyone.

Thank You to Our Community!

Projects of this magnitude are made possible through the combined efforts of many individuals, organizations, and supporters.

From the Library's board and staff to WOLF members, donors, volunteers, community partners, local and state officials, and the patrons who make WPL such a special place, every contribution has helped bring us closer to realizing this vision. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the groundbreaking celebration, supported this project, and helped make this milestone so meaningful!

We invite you to explore the photographs from our October 7 celebration and share in the excitement as this new chapter of Whitefield Public Library takes shape.

Learn More About the Project

The celebration continues as we look ahead to the next stages of construction and the opportunities the expanded Library will bring to our community.

Join us at the Library on October 27 to learn more about the renovation and expansion project, its progress, and what the future holds for WPL.

We look forward to welcoming our community into the expanded Whitefield Public Library, currently anticipated to open in Spring 2027.

Building More Than a Library — Together!

A Special Message from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen

As part of our ceremonial groundbreaking celebration, Whitefield Public Library was honored to receive a letter of congratulations and support from United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen, dated October 6, 2026. Although unable to attend in person, Senator Shaheen recognized the significance of the renovation and expansion project and reflected on the Library's longstanding importance to the Whitefield community.

In her letter, the Senator highlighted WPL's historic role as a Carnegie Library and its continued evolution into a vibrant community center, providing residents of all ages with opportunities to learn, grow, and connect.

She also recognized how federal grant funding is helping transform the historic building into a more accessible and welcoming space, with improved children's areas, a Maker's Space, private telehealth facilities, and accommodations for gatherings of up to 100 people.

Senator Shaheen acknowledged the dedication required to bring a project of this scale to fruition, recognizing the leadership of the Library's board and staff and the challenges they have overcome. Of particular significance was her recognition of Library Director Courtney Vashaw, whose perseverance, determination, and leadership were specifically acknowledged in the Senator's letter.

The Senator concluded by thanking everyone who has contributed to making this vision a reality and expressing her enthusiasm for the Library's future.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Shaheen for her thoughtful message, her recognition of the importance of public libraries, and her acknowledgment of the many individuals whose commitment has made this project possible.

We invite you to read Senator Jeanne Shaheen's complete letter.

Our renovation and expansion is an investment in the future of our Library and the community.

The project will add 4,000 square feet and allow us to reconfigure the historic building while preserving its classic character. The expanded Library will provide improved accessibility, additional quiet seating, accessible book stacks, flexible community and meeting spaces, a redesigned children's area, a Maker's Space and Business Center, private rooms for telehealth appointments, job interviews and studying, and much more.

The expansion will be fully ADA compliant with an elevator, provide additional accessible parking, and create flexible ground-floor space capable of accommodating up to 100 people. The new building will also be highly insulated and fully electric, with plans to add a solar array when funding becomes available.

Help Us Complete the Project

Over the past three years, tremendous progress has been made toward making this vision a reality. More than $2.7 million in federal grants, $762,000 in private donations, $110,000 from the Tillotson Foundation, and approximately $60,000 in in-kind contributions from Library payroll and Town crew hauling have helped move the project forward.

As construction costs have increased, Whitefield Public Library is seeking an additional $150,000 to complete the project to its original specifications. Make a donation at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/whitefield-public-library-building-project to help support the vision. Every contribution helps us move closer to a Library designed to serve Whitefield for generations to come.

We look forward to welcoming our community into the expanded Whitefield Public Library in Spring 2027.