Renovated Public Library now open; regular hours resume

posted on 6/26/2026

A crowd gathered this morning, Friday, June 26, outside the new main entrance of the Dover Public Library to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of the Dover Public Library following an extensive renovation and restoration.

Library Director Denise LaFrance cut the ribbon just before its 9 a.m. opening, then held the door and welcomed eager patrons through the library’s new main entrance by the parking lot, providing them with their first opportunity to be inside since the library closed in January 2025 and moved its operations to the McConnell Center for the duration of the $7.1 million renovation.

The new main entrance provides an accessible entrance to the library’s three floors with an elevator and stairs. The Children’s Library remains on the ground floor, but its space has expanded significantly that now includes imaginative play areas, an extensive book collection, cozy reading nooks, and programming space for crafts and story time.

The second floor now has a dedicated teen area with community and programming space, along with extensive adult book and media collections, with areas for reading and computer work. The former reference room is now where the general circulation desk is located, serving both book checkout and reference information. The former Lecture Hall on the third floor has been transformed into the Community Room that has a connected meeting room/kitchen area, as well as separate meeting spaces. The Historical and Trustee rooms remain in their same spots but are refreshed with the carpet removed, exposing the restored hardwood floors underneath.

“We have more space for everything,” Director LaFrance said during a recent video tour of the renovated library space.

The renovation of the 1905 Carnegie Library also improved electrical and life-safety elements of the building and added new restrooms on the second and third floors.

The Library’s regular summer operating hours have resumed: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit the library’s website for more information: library.dover.nh.gov.