Contact Our Library Staff
To contact any staff:
603-329-6411
603-329-6036 (Fax)
Katherine (Kate) Thomas, Director of Hampstead Public Library
kthomas@hampstead.lib.nh.us
Merrily Samuels, Assistant Director and Reference Librarian
msamuels@hampstead.lib.nh.us
Jenn MacLeod, Youth Services Librarian
jmacleod@hampstead.lib.nh.us
Meet the Staff
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Merrily is originally from New York and is now a New Hampshire resident. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New England College in Henniker, NH and a Master of Library Science from SUNY at Albany. Merrily started at Hampstead Public Library in 2007 as Assistant Director and is responsible for the adult non-fiction collection, reference/computer assistance, and interlibrary loan. Merrily enjoys photography, yarn projects, and baking. Her personal reading preferences tend towards mysteries, funny novels and select non-fiction. |
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Jenn is the Youth Services Librarian. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho in University Studies focusing on Family History Research and English with a concentration in Child Development. She loves creating programs and finding the best new books for kids of all ages. Jenn loves to travel and adventure in nature with her husband and four children. Her favorite books tend to be historical fiction, but she also enjoys the occasional mystery or YA read. She enjoys a wide variety of children’s literature ranging from Elephant and Piggie to Harry Potter. |
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Julie joined the library in 2021 as the Communications and Adult Programming Librarian. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a double minor in Film and English Literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University and recently completed a Master of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University. She moved to New Hampshire after living in Los Angeles and New York City for a number of years. Julie loves to travel (although it's been a few years since she has), with highlights including India, Iceland, France, and the Czech Republic. She likes to read thrillers, contemporary fiction, and YA fiction. | |
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Janet joined the Library staff in 2007. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University. Previous employers include a Boston advertising design studio and a major medical company. Janet is currently the Head of Circulation. In addition to managing the adult fiction and magazine collections, she writes press releases and e-newsletters, and runs the Library’s Third Thursday Book Club. Janet enjoys reading historical and literary fiction. Favorite authors include Louise Penny, Laurie King, and Diana Gabaldon. | |
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Stephanie grew up in the UK and graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Natural Sciences. After a few years in scientific research she moved to Texas while her husband did a post-doctorate degree at UT, Austin. They moved to Hampstead in 1998 and Stephanie worked in the office at a local garden center for 11 years, then began working at the library in 2015. Here she helps with office administration, compiles statistics, and keeps up with patron records. Her reading interests include mysteries, police procedurals, and historical fiction. | |
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Emily began working at the library in 2017 as a page and is now full time as Information Technology Librarian. She studied biochemistry at the University of New Hampshire and graduated in the spring of 2022. In her spare time, she tends to pick up a paint brush or a wrench, working on a piece of art or fixing her car. She is often found driving along the coast with her best friend and dog, Odie, in the passenger seat. Emily’s reading preferences include a broad range of fiction. She recently enjoyed reading The Family Upstairs and Just for the Summer as have many library patrons. |
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Joe started at the library in the summer of 2017, just before starting high school. Now, he studies Biomedical Science with a focus in Medical Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire while working part time at the library. At the library, he processes interlibrary loans and works at the front desk. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music ranging from hip-hop to folk pop, watching movies, and golfing. As for books, he enjoys reading thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, and historical fiction. | |
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April started at the library in 2023. She grew up in Southern Oregon before making the long trek to New England in 2021 after her son's rare leukemia diagnosis. Thankfully, because of great doctors he is in remission and doing well. She lives in Hampstead, NH with her husband and four youngest children. April has a passion for community, family, and bringing people together. In her free time, you will find her mentoring other women and children. April developed a love for reading at a very young age. Today, she has a wide range of favorites, from Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love, to The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D. and Ann Rule's true crime Small Sacrifices.
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Rennie joined the HPL team in October 2024. She brings a variety of library skills to Hampstead from her previous positions as Children’s Librarian at the Hancock Town Library in Hancock, New Hampshire and Adult Services and Public Outreach Librarian at Whipple Free Library in New Boston, New Hampshire. As a recent transplant from the Monadnock region Rennie enjoys exploring the Seacoast area in her kayak, walking the woods with her new puppy, and traveling along roads less traveled. Jodi Picoult, Lita Judge and Beth Krommes are a few of her favorite NH authors and illustrators. |