Call us: (978) 827-4115
The Stevens Memorial Library is led by Library Director, Jess Mynes. Learn more about us and get involved.
❯ Jess Mynes, Library Director Email ❯ Tiffany Call, Youth Services Librarian Email ❯ Holden Baird, Circulation Manager Email ❯ Keith Penniman, Senior Library Assistant ❯ Angela Wrinkle, Circulation Assistant
Big things happen at SML. Education. Culture. Recreation. Art. Activities & Events. Join us!
The Trustees of the Stevens Memorial Library are citizens of Ashburnham and are elected by town voters. Each serves a term of three (3) years.
In addition to email, you may also contact each Trustee by calling and leaving a message for them here at the library. A Trustee will return your call in a timely manner.
❯ Molly Ruble, Chair ❯ Ed Vitone, Vice Chair ❯ Katie Stevens, Secretary ❯ Paula St. Laurent Kuehl, Treasurer ❯ Anne Olivari ❯ JoAnn Piedrefite
All Library Board of Trustee Meetings are open to the public. The Trustees meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:00pm.
To find Trustees agendas & minutes from 1968-2012, please click here. For more recent minutes, please go here and click Library Board of Trustees.
Stevens Memorial Library Mission Statement
The Stevens Memorial Library supports its community through the provision of materials, programs, space, and technology to aid in the educational, cultural, and recreational development of its entire community.
The library is committed to providing a welcoming space for Ashburnham citizens and residents of neighboring communities without regard to gender, race, age, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
JOIN YOUR ACTIVE LIBRARY!
Here are just some of the ways you can help your library thrive:
Our membership roster includes families, individuals, and businesses in the Ashburnham area. Their annual membership dues, provide important financial support to the library; support that translates into entertaining and educational activities for children and adults, new materials for all library patrons to enjoy, and physical improvements to our building and grounds.
Read more or join by clicking here.
THE LIBRARY'S HISTORY
Ashburnham’s first library was established in 1793 through the sale of shares at two dollars apiece. This library managed to be self-supporting through the contributions of its members (and aided by share sales, financial and material donations, and book sales) until 1833, when it was disbanded. Its contents were distributed among its members.
In 1850, “the [private] Ladies’ Library Association was organized and a collection of books of approved character was continued by renewals until 1884” (Stearns 534).
Learn more about us here.
LIBRARY POLICIES
Ashburnham's Stevens Memorial Library's Board of Trustees has established policies to aid in the fair treatment of all who use our resources and provide guidelines for procedures and behavior. If you have any questions about these policies after reviewing them below, please phone or visit the library. These include:
View all Library Policies by clicking here.
Visit. Call or send email.
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The Stevens Memorial Library has three rooms available for public use as Meeting Rooms. Please click on the tabs below to see the room particulars, potential seating configurations for each room, and what additional amenities are available.
Please note that room requests become official room reservations once the Library confirms the request. Patrons are reminded to observe the Library's Mask Policy when attending events in the meeting rooms.
The Malcolm Stewart Community Room
Available Technology
Additional technology is available for Meeting Rooms upon request. You may request a Laptop, Projector and Screen, and/or a Public Address System (PA). Please indicate these needs on your Online Room Request Form.
The Story Time Room
* This room has open walls.
The Preservation Room
* While the footprint of the Preservation Room is larger, the ceiling is lower and not all the room is available for seating. No food or drink is permitted in the Preservation Room.
(applicable to The Malcolm Stewart Community Room and The Preservation Room only)
Not sure what room best fits your needs? Please speak with a Library team member.
When meeting rooms are not being used for Library programs, the Library encourages the use of meeting rooms by organizations for educational, cultural, recreational, or charitable activities during Library operational hours. The Stevens Memorial Library offers meeting space at no charge. All meetings and programs held in Library rooms must be free and open to the public. Outside groups are not allowed to use Library meeting spaces to solicit donations or to sell or promote items or services. Nonprofit groups that include fundraising as part of their regular business meeting may do so provided the fundraising is not the primary purpose of the meeting and fundraising is not mentioned in the publicity for the meeting.
The Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users, but makes every effort to make space available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting use. Meeting rooms are scheduled according to the following priorities: Library-related meetings or programs; municipal meetings; outside organizations. Library staff will contact room users if the Library closes and a program is canceled.
Failure to follow any of these guidelines may result in a loss of room booking privileges.
1. All requests to use a meeting room must be made by an adult who will be personally responsible for the conduct of the meeting, adherence to Library policies and etiquette, payment of any fees or charges, and restitution for any damaged or lost Library property. Requests for use of Library audiovisual or other technology equipment can be made at the time of booking on the room request form.
2. All groups are required to submit a request form. Failure to notify the Library of cancellations may result in forfeiture of future bookings. Groups can reserve a meeting up to three months in advance of their meeting. Groups can have up to three scheduled events on the upcoming calendar.
3. Groups using the meeting room are responsible for costs incurred by the Library or the Town as a result of that use. A group may be required to post a bond to cover anticipated costs (e.g., security or insurance) in advance of the program. The Library assumes no liability for a group’s activities. The Library is not responsible for any loss of, or damage to, personal property.
4. Meeting rooms must be returned to their original state when vacated, including returning furniture to its original location. If custodial staff is required to return the room to its original state, the Library reserves the right to charge the applicant for this time. Any damage to Library property must be reported to a staff member upon conclusion of the event.
5. All fire codes and applicable laws must be followed while on Library property, including the prohibition of smoking and following guidelines for room capacity.
6. Library behavior policies apply to groups using meeting rooms. Groups that disrupt or inhibit the enjoyment of Library resources by others may lose their privileges for meeting room use.
7. All meetings must end 15 minutes before closing, unless a waiver has been given by the Library Director and special arrangements have been made. All meetings must be held during the Library's operational hours.
8. Light refreshments may be served with prior approval by the Library Director. Alcoholic beverages may not be dispensed or consumed on Library property.
9. Facilities Use Requests that have been denied according to this policy may be brought to the Library Board of Trustees for appeal.
For this and our other library policies, please review the Stevens Memorial Library Policies Page.
