Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the library hours?
A. The library is currently open Monday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm. Please check WMUR for closings related to weather.
Q. How do I get in touch with the library?
A. Call 603-744-3352, email librarian@townofbristolnh.org, or click here for more information.
Q. Who is eligible for a library card?
A. Residents of the Newfound Area School District (Bristol, New Hampton, Bridgewater, Hebron, Alexandria, Hill, Groton, and Danbury) are eligible for a library card at no charge. Staff of the Newfound Regional School District and Jennie D. Blake Elementary School in Hill, and employees of the Town of Bristol may also receive a library card with borrowing privileges free of charge. Those residing outside of the school district may purchase a library card for $25.
Q. How do I get a library card?
A. Please provide something with your address on it: a tax form, car registration, license or bill will work just fine. Then you provide us with your name, address, phone number and email and we get you a card! The whole process takes about five minutes. It's as easy as that!
Q. How long do books go out for?
A. Books and audiobooks are checked out for two weeks. DVDs and magazines are checked out for one week. You may renew them over the phone or in person.
Q. How many DVDs can I check out at a time?
A. Four at a time.
Q. What are your fines?
A. We do not charge for overdue books, though donations are encouraged. If you lose or damage a library book, you may be charged for the loss.
Q. Can I print?
A. Yes! You must use one of our computers and prints are 20 cents a page. Prints are in black and white. Color is available upon request for an additional fee. We can also make copies for you at 20 cents a page.
Q. Do you have a fax machine?
A. No, sorry. We can scan and email things for you, though.
Q. Do you have museum passes?
A. We carry passes to several museums in the area! Please click here for more details.
Q. Do you accept donations?
A. Yes! We accept books and DVDs that are in good condition. We generally do not accept dictionaries, encyclopedias, and most textbooks. We also cannot accept items with mold and odor. If you wish to donate, please bring all items inside to the front desk. We will not be able to immediately tell you how the items will be used. If books and movies are not added to our Library's collection, we work with the Friends of the Library and several other vendors to resell the items with proceeds benefiting the library.
What is the library doing to make materials safe for me to borrow?
All materials returned to the library are quarantined for 3 days, a length based on scientific research, then wiped down before being reshelved. Library staff take safety precautions, including wearing masks and gloves and clean surfaces throughout the day. Once the library opens to the public on September 1, the staff and trustees encourage anyone who wishes to take precautions with library materials they bring home to quarantine items for 72 hours. More information about this can be found at: https://www.imls.gov/news/research-shows-virus-undetectable-five-highly-circulated-library-materials-after-three-days.
Why do I have to wear a mask?
The library is following recommendations made by health professionals to provide a safe environment. Public libraries serve all people, therefore we put certain precautions in place to ensure a welcoming and safe place for the entire community. The library has always done this through requirements ranging from the use of footwear, to annual building safety audits.
Can I come into the library to browse or use a computer?
Yes! To ensure you are able to come into the library when you arrive, during a time of limited occupancy, appointments are required and can be made by calling 603-744-3352, emailing minotsleeperlibrary@gmail.com or online at minotsleeperlibrary.org/currentservices.html.
Why do I have to make an appointment?
Following state guidelines, the library will reopen with capacity limits. To ensure you are able to come into the library when you arrive, appointments are required and intended for your convenience. To make an appointment, call 603-744-3352, email minotsleeperlibrary@gmail.com or reserve a time online at minotsleeperlibrary.org/currentservices.html.
Can I order a book that our library doesn't have through interlibrary loan?
The state-wide interlibrary loan is currently suspended. We will make an announcement when the State Library has is back up and running.
What if I want to borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming videos, but I don't have a library card?
Easy! We can sign you up for a library card over the phone. Just give us a call at 603-744-3352 during our regular hours (Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm). We will confirm with you that you live in one of the towns in the Newfound Area School District, ask you a few other questions, and within minutes you will have access to digital materials!
Can I return my books and movies?
Yes! All library materials can be returned in the metal drop box outside the library's entrance at any time.
What if I don’t know what I want to read or watch, or what you have available?
Give us a call! Our librarians are happy to talk with you on the phone, by email, or in an online Zoom meeting to help make recommendations based on your interests and reading history.
Can I borrow items for friends and family?
Why not encourage them to sign up for their own library card? If they live in Bristol, Alexandria, Bridgewater, Danbury Hebron, Hill, Groton, or New Hampton they can sign up for a library card for no charge. To sign up, call 603-744-3352. If you’re still wondering if you can borrow items for others, be aware each cardholder may borrow up to 20 items at a time, including a limit of 4 videos. Patrons may choose to share these with friends and family, however, responsibility for overdues, lost, or damaged items will fall to the cardholder.
What if I want things from the library but I'm home bound?
Minot-Sleeper Library offers a home delivery program for people who are home bound and living in the Newfound Region of New Hampshire. There is no charge for this service.
Please review the details of the service below before signing up. To complete an application for home delivery, call the library 603-744-3352 to complete the form over the phone with a librarian. You can also fill out a form online by clicking here : docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJqrVSNUFhNvHyKkPjMnbzW870b7qX8sPibmAGZ4aWcWH3zA/viewform
Have another question? Call us at (603) 744-3352!
Q. What are the library hours?
A. The library is currently open Monday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm. Please check WMUR for closings related to weather.
Q. How do I get in touch with the library?
A. Call 603-744-3352, email librarian@townofbristolnh.org, or click here for more information.
Q. Who is eligible for a library card?
A. Residents of the Newfound Area School District (Bristol, New Hampton, Bridgewater, Hebron, Alexandria, Hill, Groton, and Danbury) are eligible for a library card at no charge. Staff of the Newfound Regional School District and Jennie D. Blake Elementary School in Hill, and employees of the Town of Bristol may also receive a library card with borrowing privileges free of charge. Those residing outside of the school district may purchase a library card for $25.
Q. How do I get a library card?
A. Please provide something with your address on it: a tax form, car registration, license or bill will work just fine. Then you provide us with your name, address, phone number and email and we get you a card! The whole process takes about five minutes. It's as easy as that!
Q. How long do books go out for?
A. Books and audiobooks are checked out for two weeks. DVDs and magazines are checked out for one week. You may renew them over the phone or in person.
Q. How many DVDs can I check out at a time?
A. Four at a time.
Q. What are your fines?
A. We do not charge for overdue books, though donations are encouraged. If you lose or damage a library book, you may be charged for the loss.
Q. Can I print?
A. Yes! You must use one of our computers and prints are 20 cents a page. Prints are in black and white. Color is available upon request for an additional fee. We can also make copies for you at 20 cents a page.
Q. Do you have a fax machine?
A. No, sorry. We can scan and email things for you, though.
Q. Do you have museum passes?
A. We carry passes to several museums in the area! Please click here for more details.
Q. Do you accept donations?
A. Yes! We accept books and DVDs that are in good condition. We generally do not accept dictionaries, encyclopedias, and most textbooks. We also cannot accept items with mold and odor. If you wish to donate, please bring all items inside to the front desk. We will not be able to immediately tell you how the items will be used. If books and movies are not added to our Library's collection, we work with the Friends of the Library and several other vendors to resell the items with proceeds benefiting the library.
What is the library doing to make materials safe for me to borrow?
All materials returned to the library are quarantined for 3 days, a length based on scientific research, then wiped down before being reshelved. Library staff take safety precautions, including wearing masks and gloves and clean surfaces throughout the day. Once the library opens to the public on September 1, the staff and trustees encourage anyone who wishes to take precautions with library materials they bring home to quarantine items for 72 hours. More information about this can be found at: https://www.imls.gov/news/research-shows-virus-undetectable-five-highly-circulated-library-materials-after-three-days.
Why do I have to wear a mask?
The library is following recommendations made by health professionals to provide a safe environment. Public libraries serve all people, therefore we put certain precautions in place to ensure a welcoming and safe place for the entire community. The library has always done this through requirements ranging from the use of footwear, to annual building safety audits.
Can I come into the library to browse or use a computer?
Yes! To ensure you are able to come into the library when you arrive, during a time of limited occupancy, appointments are required and can be made by calling 603-744-3352, emailing minotsleeperlibrary@gmail.com or online at minotsleeperlibrary.org/currentservices.html.
Why do I have to make an appointment?
Following state guidelines, the library will reopen with capacity limits. To ensure you are able to come into the library when you arrive, appointments are required and intended for your convenience. To make an appointment, call 603-744-3352, email minotsleeperlibrary@gmail.com or reserve a time online at minotsleeperlibrary.org/currentservices.html.
Can I order a book that our library doesn't have through interlibrary loan?
The state-wide interlibrary loan is currently suspended. We will make an announcement when the State Library has is back up and running.
What if I want to borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming videos, but I don't have a library card?
Easy! We can sign you up for a library card over the phone. Just give us a call at 603-744-3352 during our regular hours (Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm). We will confirm with you that you live in one of the towns in the Newfound Area School District, ask you a few other questions, and within minutes you will have access to digital materials!
Can I return my books and movies?
Yes! All library materials can be returned in the metal drop box outside the library's entrance at any time.
What if I don’t know what I want to read or watch, or what you have available?
Give us a call! Our librarians are happy to talk with you on the phone, by email, or in an online Zoom meeting to help make recommendations based on your interests and reading history.
Can I borrow items for friends and family?
Why not encourage them to sign up for their own library card? If they live in Bristol, Alexandria, Bridgewater, Danbury Hebron, Hill, Groton, or New Hampton they can sign up for a library card for no charge. To sign up, call 603-744-3352. If you’re still wondering if you can borrow items for others, be aware each cardholder may borrow up to 20 items at a time, including a limit of 4 videos. Patrons may choose to share these with friends and family, however, responsibility for overdues, lost, or damaged items will fall to the cardholder.
What if I want things from the library but I'm home bound?
Minot-Sleeper Library offers a home delivery program for people who are home bound and living in the Newfound Region of New Hampshire. There is no charge for this service.
Please review the details of the service below before signing up. To complete an application for home delivery, call the library 603-744-3352 to complete the form over the phone with a librarian. You can also fill out a form online by clicking here : docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJqrVSNUFhNvHyKkPjMnbzW870b7qX8sPibmAGZ4aWcWH3zA/viewform
Have another question? Call us at (603) 744-3352!
