Upcoming Events

The Dragon of PPL: A Library Treasure Hunt!

All Day 8/1–9/30

Adult, Tween & Teen, Tween (Grades 6 - 8), Teen (Ages 13 - 18), Grades 3 - 5

Lobby

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Lobby

Age Group: Adult, Tween & Teen, Tween (Grades 6 - 8), Teen (Ages 13 - 18), Grades 3 - 5

Program Type: Activity

Details:

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?

Exhibit: Guatemalan Artesania

08/29/2025 @ 10:00am–09/30/2025 @ 8:00pm

All Ages

Lobby

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Lobby

Age Group: All Ages

Program Type: Exhibit

Details:

Exhibit: The Artists of Rogers Point

09/02/2025 @ 9:00am–10/01/2025 @ 8:00pm

All Ages

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: All Ages

Program Type: Exhibit

Details:

Inside/Outside – The Artists of Rogers Point

On Display:
September 2- October 1
Levenson Community Room

More Info

Please check the calendar before you visit. Exhibit will be available for viewing when there is not an event or meeting in progress.

Italian Language Discussion Group

12:15pm–1:15pm

Adult

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, Language

Details:

This Italian Language Discussion Group meets at the library and online via Zoom part of the year.

French Language Discussion Group

1:30pm–3:00pm

Adult

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, Language

Details:

The French Language Discussion Group meets at the library.

We Craft

5:00pm–6:30pm

Adult, Tween & Teen

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Adult, Tween & Teen

Program Type: Activity, Crafts

Details:

We craft, ewe craft, we all craft together! Join library staff and fellow crafters on the third Friday of each month from 5 - 6:30 PM for an after-hours, drop-in, open crafting time.

English Conversation Group

10:30am–11:30am

All Ages

Macleod Board Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Macleod Board Room

Age Group: All Ages

Program Type: Discussion Group, Language

Details:

If you want to improve your English, join us at our English Conversation Group! During these weekly meetings, you will practice speaking English with others, improve pronunciation, and build vocabulary while increasing your confidence.

Mah Jongg

10:30am–12:30pm

All Ages

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: All Ages

Program Type: Gaming

Details:

Come to the library to play Mah Jongg, the ancient Chinese game of tiles on Saturdays from 10:30 AM —12:30 PM!

Reading Dogs - Chloe & Tillie!

11:00am–12:00pm

Youth, Grades K - 2, Grades 3 - 5

Youth Services

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Youth Services

Age Group: Youth, Grades K - 2, Grades 3 - 5

Program Type: Activity, Authors & Books

Details:

Emerging readers! You are invited to come share a book with one of our reading dogs ⁠— first come, first served. This program will be held in the Youth Services area of the library and is open to readers of all ages.

More Info

Children under ten (10) years of age must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Genealogy Workshop: Creating a Family Archives

2:00pm–4:00pm

Adult

OFF SITE

Offsite Event

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: OFF SITE

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Presentation, Genealogy

Details:

Presented by the library’s Special Collections staff and members of the Ranger Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), these events are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all levels of interest and experience. All levels will learn something new!

Creating a Family Archives
with Rhonda Chadwick

Guitar Sundays at PPL: Featuring Joel Spears

3:00pm–4:30pm

All Ages

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: All Ages

Program Type: Performance, Drama & Music

Details:

Explore the versatility and range of the guitar—from jazz and classical to flamenco and even the 11-string archguitar!

Guitar Sundays is a series of monthly free concerts that showcase a rich lineup of guitar talent from New Hampshire and the greater Boston area. The program is co-presented by Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC) and Portsmouth Public Library, in association with the Boston Classical Guitar Society and curated by Mitch Shuldman.

This series is free and open to the public and audiences of all ages! Registration is not necessary. The location alternates between PMAC and the library, so please read the event listings for details.

Thank you to Service Credit Union for their generous sponsorship of this series.

JOEL SPEARS: Lute and Theorbo
Joel Spears is a self- taught string player. Inspired by the sound and the vast repertoire of the lute, he began studying the instrument in all its various forms.

German Language Discussion Group

2:30pm–4:00pm

Adult

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, Language

Details:

The German Language Discussion Group meets at the library in the Hilton Garden Inn Room.

Middle School Mondays

3:30pm–4:30pm

Tween & Teen, Tween (Grades 6 - 8)

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Tween & Teen, Tween (Grades 6 - 8)

Program Type: Activity, Workshop, Art & Culture, Authors & Books, Computer, Crafts, Gaming, Science & STEAM

Details:

Calling All Middle Schoolers!!!

Book Club for Grades 3-5

4:00pm–5:00pm

Youth, Grades 3 - 5

Youth Activity Room

Open

Registration Required

Open

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Youth Activity Room

Age Group: Youth, Grades 3 - 5

Program Type: Book Club

Registration Required

Details:

Join Miss Gretyl for a NEW book club for students in grades 3-5! During our first meeting we will talk about books we liked over the summer, play some games, do some MadLibs, have some snacks and get our book for the October book club.

World Affairs Discussion Group

4:00pm–5:00pm

Adult

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, World Affairs

Details:

Today's event will be held both onsite in the Hilton Garden Room at the library (today only) AND online using the Zoom platform.

More Info

Available online on the Zoom platform. Questions or trouble connecting? Visit portsmouthnh.gov/library/news/onlineprograms.

Weekly Meditation

6:00pm–6:45pm

Adult, Tween & Teen

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult, Tween & Teen

Program Type: Activity, Health & Wellness

Details:

Hybrid Meditation

Our Weekly Meditation is now offered on Monday evenings as well as Wednesday afternoon.

Waddler Time

10:30am–11:00am

Youth, Toddler, Preschool

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Youth, Toddler, Preschool

Program Type: Story Time

Details:

Waddler Time is back for our younger toddlers AND caregivers! Mobile 1s and 2s will engage in the five building blocks of literacy (SING, TALK, READ, WRITE AND PLAY) through this interactive storytime!

Spanish Language Discussion Group

10:30am–11:30am

Adult

Hilton Garden Inn Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Hilton Garden Inn Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, Language

Details:

The Spanish Language Discussion Group meets at the Library in the Hilton Garden Inn Room.

Grades 2/3 Book Club

3:30pm–4:15pm

Youth, Grades K - 2

Levenson Room

Waitlist

Registration Required

Waitlist

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Youth, Grades K - 2

Program Type: Book Club

Registration Required

Details:

In September we will kick off with the fiction book: Greetings From Somewhere: Mystery of the Gold Coin!

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes

5:30pm–7:30pm

Adult

OFF SITE

Offsite Event

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: OFF SITE

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Activity, Discussion Group, Authors & Books, Language

Details:

Take English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes in Portsmouth!

Planner Society's Art Supply Sampler Night

6:30pm–7:30pm

Adult

Levenson Room

Open

Registration Required

Open

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Activity, Crafts

Registration Required

Details:

Planner Society is excited to return In-Person and at a new time this September! Are there any art supplies you've been curious about but don't want to invest in without trying them first?

Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Support Group

7:00pm–8:00pm

Adult

Online

Open

Registration Required

Virtual Event

Open

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Online

Age Group: Adult

Program Type: Discussion Group, Health & Wellness

Registration Required

Details:

If you are a caregiver, family member, or friend of someone with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia, join us for a new online caregiver support group starting Tuesday September 23.

Tour the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard!

10:00am–12:30pm

Adult, Teen (Ages 13 - 18)

OFF SITE

Closed

Registration Required

Offsite Event

Closed

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: OFF SITE

Age Group: Adult, Teen (Ages 13 - 18)

Program Type: Special Event, Genealogy, History

Registration Required

Details:

Have you ever gazed over the river and wondered about the historic Portsmouth Naval Shipyard? Do you have relatives who may have worked there or served on a submarine stationed there for repairs? Have you ever been curious about the naval prison?

Baby Laptime Story Time

10:30am–11:00am

Youth, Baby

Levenson Room

Library Branch: Portsmouth Public Library

Room: Levenson Room

Age Group: Youth, Baby

Program Type: Story Time

Details:

New Time! Laptime is recommended for babies ages 0 to 18 months and will feature stories, songs, fingerplays, bouncing rhymes, and puppets.

Primary tabs

Inside/Outside – The Artists of Rogers Point

More Info

More Info

More Info