As temperatures soared into the 90s, cooling stations opened around the state today to help residents cool off.
Susan Harmon works at Manchester City Library, and said they don't track how many people come into the library specifically for the air conditioning. But she said that some people visiting in order to stay cool lack their own home, while others live in low-income housing and may not have access to air conditioning.
"Many people come in just to use the library and are relieved that it's nice and air-conditioned," she said.
Library Director Denise Van Zanten said that visitorship at the library is far lower than it used to be, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This morning there were people waiting on the front stairs to get in. But we used to see a thousand people a day, and we're about up to 300. So people, come on back, we're open!" she said.
The Manchester City Library will be open all week as a cooling station.
This week's heat wave is the second to hit the northeast in 2021. Northern New Hampshire is also experiencing a drought while most of the rest of the state remains unusually dry.
Other towns have opened cooling stations as well.
Dover
- McConnell Center Cafeteria at 61 Locust St. will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Dover Public Library at 73 Locust St. will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Dover City Hall at 288 Central Ave. will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Dover Police Department lobby at 46 Chestnut St. will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Community Action Partnership of Strafford County's Day Center at Bradley Commons, 577 Central Ave. will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Manchester
- William B. Cashin Senior Center at 151 Douglas St. will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Manchester City Library at 405 Pine St. will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Portsmouth
- Senior Center at 125 Cottage St. will be open late Monday through Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The outdoor pool hours will also be extended, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
