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 ❯ (position currently open), 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.
Send Us Email Now
Click to see our Event Calendar.
The numbers were great! As of 4:00 PM Monday, 8/2, Stevens Memorial Library readers logged 63,676 minutes, or 1,061 hours of reading! And it was a record year with 315 participants!
Great job everyone! We passed last year's total of 929 hours. Everyone here at the library thanks Summer Reading 2021 participants for a incredible summer!
Stevens Memorial Library enters Phase II Reopening on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. This phase includes expansion of our In-Library Browsing Hours. MASK POLICY: We ask that patrons who are not fully vaccinated to please wear a mask inside the building. Thank you.
The Stevens Memorial Library currently has an opening for a Youth Services Librarian. This is 35-hour a week position. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. Initial screening will begin August 30, 2021.
Read the Position Opening PDF for complete information, qualifications and other requirements.
The Trustees of Ashburnham’s Stevens Memorial Library are pleased to announce the appointment of Jess Mynes to the position of Library Director, effective July 26, 2021.
Jess earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the St. Lawrence University and his Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from University Rhode Island. Jess has a strong background in library service with over 20 years of experience at the community college, college, and local levels. For the last five years, Jess was the Assistant Dean of Library Services and Technologies at the LaChance Library of Mount Wachusett Community College. Jess serves on the Executive Committee of the Central & Western Massachusetts Resource Sharing Organization (CWMARS), of which Stevens Memorial Library is a member.
Jess lives in Wendell and serves on both the Town’s Board of Library Trustees and Culture Council. He is also an accomplished poet with four published books.
During the interview process, when asked about his interest in public libraries, Jess said:
"There is no fee to join a public library. A library and its resources can transform a person’s intellectual, cultural and professional life. It is one of the most democratic institutions that we have as a society. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a library novice become a library devotee and to participate in their transformation."
The Trustees are confident that Jess is a great fit for Ashburnham and will ably guide the Library for years to come.
See the PDF Press Release announcement.
SML's 2021 Annual Summer Reading Program for Children Ages 0-18 from Ashburnham and surrounding communities is June 21 to August 2 this year. It iincludes super-fun Take-home Activity Kits, exciting Virtual Programs and perhaps even a few socially-distanced Outdoor Activities. Participants will enjoy many Program Events, Additions, Updates and can track their reading online.
Ashburnham's Stevens Memorial Library is entering Phase I of reopening on June 1, 2021. Read our Reopening Flyer.
Browsing Hours will be available with no appointment necessary beginning Tuesday, June 1, 2021. We will also continue to offer our popular Curbside Pick-up Option. We will have laptops available for checkout to allow for socially-distanced PC usage.
Per CDC and state guidelines, we respectfully ask that our patrons who are not yet fully vaccinated please wear their masks inside the library. We are happy to provide masks if you forget to bring one.
We have missed our patrons and are looking forward to seeing you all in person again!
See our Browsing and Curbside Pick-up Hours Flyer.
BROWSING HOURS: MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY 10AM - 3PM WEDNESDAY Noon - 7PM
CURBSIDE PICK-UP HOURS: MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY 10AM - 4PM WEDNESDAY 10AM - 8PM SATURDAY 10AM - 2PM
2020 was a year like none other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The year began as a typical year only to come to a screeching halt in March when the Commonwealth went into lockdown. Like many other public libraries across the state, Library staff worked from home and continued to serve the public by communicating with patrons via social media, providing website updates, help with digital services, email and phone assistance. Read more about our year here.
Thank you everyone for such a wonderful summer! This year we were unsure of how participation in a mostly virtual Summer Reading Program would be. You really knocked our socks off!
Thank you so much for your support, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. We are taking a brief break from Youth/Teen Programming until September. We plan on continuing to offer Virtual Storytimes and Programs, along with accompanying take Home Craft/Activity Kits.
The Ashburnham Energy committee is happy to announce the installation of a Level 2 EV charging station. The station is located at the East (Water street) side of the Stevens Memorial Library, and has two charging cords available for use.
The charging station was made possible by a grant from the Commonwealth through the State's "Green Communities" competitive grant program, with additional financial support provided by your Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant (AMLP) and the Town's Economic Development Committee. Additionally, the Town's DPW provided all site preparation and finish work for the required infrastructure.
The two parking spots immediately in front of the station are marked for EV parking only."
