Want to download books, stream movies, or access any other Digital Services? Visit the Digital Services page by clicking here.

The Library offers passes for free or discounted admission to several museums and other attractions. You may make your museum pass reservations online. Remember, you must pick up the actual museum pass at the Information Desk in the Library's Reference Department. You will need your library card to make a reservation and to pick up the pass.

View more information about Museum Passes.

• Traveling from the North or South, take I-95 to the Market Street exit (Exit 7) toward Portsmouth downtown.
  • If you are coming from points south of Portsmouth, turn right at the end of the exit ramp onto Market Street.
  • If you are coming from points north of Portsmouth, turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Market Street, crossing under the highway
• At the fork in the road (Sheraton is in front of you; salt piles are on your left), bear right, in front of the Sheraton, onto Russell Street.
• The Sheraton is now on the left.
• Proceed one block (street ends) and turn right onto Deer Street.
• At the stop light turn left onto Maplewood Avenue. Maplewood changes to Middle Street at the 2nd stop light.
• At the third stop light turn left onto State Street.
• Continue on State Street to the 2nd stop light. Turn right onto Pleasant Street.
• Go past Court Street & the Citizens Bank on the right.
• Just after the parking lot on the right, turn right onto Junkins Avenue.
• Take the first right onto Parrott Avenue.
• Continue on Parrott Avenue, passing on the right Portsmouth District Courthouse, Parrott Avenue Place, Portsmouth Middle School, and a city parking lot.
• The library is the brick building with a tower, just after the city parking lot. There is a big granite sign out front near the street.

For more information about directions and parking visit the About the Library page by clicking here.

There are two types of rooms you may reserve at the Portsmouth Public Library. We have three small study rooms, and 3 larger meeting rooms.

Visit the Reference Desk or call (603) 766-1720 to reserve a study room today!

For more information and to reserve a meeting room, please click here to download the meeting room application policy and meeting room application form (pdf), or visit the Reserve a Room page by clicking here.

You can find a list of new items in the library catalog - click on New Items on the right to see all your options!

Visit the library's calendar to see all upcoming events.

See all upcoming Story Times on our calendar! 

Looking for a book? Need help with research? Send us an email! We read this email at least every two hours during business hours and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Learn more about Contacting a librarian by clicking here.

You can view your library account information by logging into the library catalog here. You will need your library card number. Your password is by default the last four digits of your phone number. If your login information isn't working, call us for help at 603-427-1540!

How to place a hold online:

1. To place a hold you must have a valid Portsmouth Public Library card.
2. Log in to your Library Account using your library card barcode number and PIN number from the My Account link or the link at the top of the Catalog that says My Account.
3. Conduct a search in the Library Catalog.
4. To request that the item be saved for you (placed on hold), click on the REQUEST button. The system will immediately notify you if your request was accepted – “your request for ________was successful” .
5. The library will notify you by email, text or phone (depending on your account settings) when a requested item is ready for pickup. Please pick up your item at the Circulation Desk.
6. Items are held for 7 days before the hold is automatically cancelled and the item is moved to the next person or returned to the shelves.

Learn more about placing a hold on the How to Borrow page by clicking here.