About the Library

Library founder Sebastian Griffin was a pioneer of the Free Library movement all the way back in the late 19th century when he donated his collection and the first library building to the town of Auburn.

Sebastian believed that library resources should be free to everyone in the community, as opposed to being only available by subscription. As such, Griffin Free Public Library, opened in 1893, was a precursor to Andrew Carnegie’s library movement which exploded across the country decades later.

Nearly 130 years later, housed in part in the same original structure that once served as Sebastian’s own library, the smallest per capita library in the state of New Hampshire continues to serve Auburn in the same spirit as our original founder.

Sebastian’s original collection of about 600 items has now expanded to nearly 20,000 with an ever growing Library of Things, a vibrant schedule of children’s and teen’s events, and activities and exciting plans for the library’s future.

Our founder’s descendants still live in town and are still involved in the everyday life of the library, which is also chartered as a museum as Sebastian had envisioned. Add an active and dedicated Board of Trustees, a large and hard working Friends of the Library organization and a small but experienced and enthusiastic staff, and Griffin Free Public Library has become one of the busiest and most community-focused institutions in town.