Following the release of her debut book The Tears of Other People: A History and Memoir of Displacement in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, E. M. Ippolito presents her lived experience and research into the local trend of working-class displacement. From contemporary gentrification, to the red light district of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, to its earliest English settlement in 1623, this history frames Portsmouth as a city defined by constant and ever-changing forms of targeted dispossession.

Anyone who delves into their family history soon discovers a common frustration: records don’t always tell the same story. Names diverge, dates contradict, place names don’t make sense. When the paper trail splits in two, how do you decide which path leads to the truth? Fortunately, there are a handful of effective strategies that can help you sift through the inconsistencies and find the facts about your ancestors.

No registration required! Just drop in.

Join us for a compelling presentation by Dr. Kathleen Wheeler as she shares the remarkable findings from the 2003 and 2008 archaeological investigations of the "Negro Burying Ground." These investigations led to the discovery of 22 graves beneath Chestnut Street and the unearthing of 13 individuals. Dr. Wheeler will delve into the stories of those found, offering a unique glimpse into a significant part of Portsmouth's history.

Registration is not required, but space is limited. Please arrive early to secure parking and a seat in the Levenson Community Room. 

Walk With a Doc inspires communities through movement and conversation with walking groups led by healthcare providers. Drop into the library on the second Saturday of the month and join us!

Join a physician from the Portsmouth Regional Hospital for a short, seven-minute talk. Following the presentation, they will lead you on a 30-minute walk from the library to City Hall and back!

Sage Clarke is here this summer to offer free weekly yoga classes on Tuesday evenings! Join us on Tuesdays through September 16 from 6:30-7:30 PM for an hour of outdoor, all-levels yoga in the library garden behind the library.

Our focus will be to move and awaken the body, find a mental respite from our busy lives, recharge our spirit, and fully enjoy our precious summer. 

Do you love puzzles and escape rooms? Are you looking for an hour or two of free fun for the whole family or friend group? Are you into gaming, D&D, or fantasy? Drop in to the library any time in August or September and take the Dragon of PPL challenge! 

A library-wide treasure hunt designed for adults or families (with kids aged 8 and above), the adventure begins in the library of a small village, where a famous golden book has gone missing...