Check Out UNH: A Partnership with NH Libraries
6/15/23 Update - Check Out UNH has brought together New Hampshire's flagship research university and municipal libraries to provide unique opportunities for residents of the Granite State.
The effort began with a generous donation in 2021, that led to support of the 2022 summer reading program. It was the university’s Marine Docent program that stepped up to design and conduct age-appropriate programs for the “Oceans of Possibilities” theme in 76 libraries!
This year we will not participate in the summer reading program, but instead the Check Out UNH planning team will mindfully reflect on what worked well and not so well in the pilot year, and collected some more information to identify shared needs, opportunities and capacities. A major object of this year will be to develop a sustainable process to meet residents' needs across the state.
In addition to planning, we will explore and pilot a few efforts around subjects that address mutual needs and interests, like New Hampshire gardening and health and wellness programming.
Here at UNH, we want to connect more with librarians to share and to learn how we can help each other and support communities in New Hampshire. To stay connected, please sign up for the Check Out UNH newsletter at the bottom of this webpage.
Under Consideration
We know many libraries across the state have pollinator or educational gardens on site. Our summer student coordinator, Emily Buehne will be reaching out and visiting libraries to inventory what information you currently have on UNH and what gardening programs and materials you provide.
Connect
"Check Out UNH" began in 2022 and is a five-year pilot program made possible through a generous gift from a donor to UNH.
- We lend our materials to any library in the state free of charge.
- Our Durham campus libraries are open to the public for on-site use.
- The Milne Special Collections and Archives maintains approximately 18,000 linear feet of rare books, manuscripts, University records, photographs, sound recordings, and other materials available for on-site use.
- We extend borrowing privileges to all New Hampshire residents for a modest fee, with fees waived by some employers, schools or other affiliations.
- The UNH Scholars Repository provides Open Access to UNH research and scholarship
- As a U.S. federal depository library, the UNH Library provides free and ready access to and assistance with locating Federal Government information.
- We have subject specialist librarians who can assist public librarians with in-depth, scholarly research inquiries they receive from their communities.
- We have genealogy and local history resources, including UNH yearbooks, New Hampshire City and Town Reports, and New Hampshire State documents, in our Digital Collections .
- We have expert-curated research guides.
“Check Out UNH significantly extends the University’s reach throughout the state, tapping into a beloved community resource that values UNH as a leader in research, technical assistance and workforce development” - Ken La Valley, UNH Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement
“This strategic partnership with the state’s flagship research university enriches the public’s understanding of issues important to New Hampshire and improves access to trusted resources. We are eager to include more UNH programming in local libraries that elevates awareness of what the university can and is doing for residents every day.” – Deborah Dutcher, Library Services Consultant, NH State Library
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