Call us at (978) 827-4115
Stevens Memorial Library is led by Library Director, Terri Anstiss. Learn more about us and get involved! Big things are happening at SML... Educational. Culture. Recreation. Art. Information. History. Activities & Events.
Terri was born and raised in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. She holds a Master of Library Science from Simmons University with additional coursework in school library teacher certification and educational technology. Terri has both public library and school library experience, and is a licensed library media specialist. She's worked in reference, circulation and administration in public libraries, as well as with students in grades K-12 in school libraries.
Terri loves to spend time with her children and attend their athletic events and artistic performances. She also enjoys reading nonfiction, music and the arts, spending time outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
Claire is our Youth Services Librarian, and comes to us from Chicopee. She had been working in Circulation, but Youth Services is her true passion.
Claire has her Master's Degree in Library Science, and hopes to bring wonderful programming and materials to the youth of Ashburnham and surrounding towns. She loves being crafty, and learning new things. On her days off, you can find her reading, or teaching her cats tricks.
Erin originally comes to us from the Ashby Free Public Library where she still works as a cataloguer.
She previously managed a MovieStop store and always has great recommendations for movie fans of any taste, as well as an uncanny ability to recall film titles based on vague descriptions of the plot or the featured actors. If you have a movie mystery, Erin can probably solve it.
In addition to spending her time at the various movie theaters in the area, Erin enjoys reading and writing—especially weird fiction—as well as cooking and hanging out with her cats.
Keith has lived in Ashburnham since 1980 and raised three children here. He has been on the library staff since 2009.
Keith's a graduate of UMass/Amherst and Boston University and has previously worked as a teacher, corporate communications specialist, and video producer. His interests include singing and playing the guitar, gardening, camping, and of course, books!
Angela lives in Ashburnham with her husband and three children. She previously worked as a Theology teacher in Worcester, and Director and Coordinator of after school Religious Education programs in the Boston area. She has a Master's degree in Education from Providence College and degrees in Art and Theology from Assumption College.
Angela enjoys creating new adventures and activities with her children, arts and crafts, drawing, cooking, exercise, and the outdoors.
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 leaving a message for them here at the library. A Trustee will return your call in a timely manner.
❯ Ed Vitone, Chair Email ❯ Paula St. Laurent Kuehl, Treasurer ❯ Katie Stevens ❯ Christopher Rigby ❯ Anne Olivari ❯ Molly Ruble
All Library Board of Trustee Meetings are open to the public. The Trustees meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:00.
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
Read Stevens Memorial Library News here. Click to see our Event Calendar.
Per Governor Baker’s Stay-at-home Advisory in effect through April 7, the Stevens Memorial Library will be closed to the public through April 7.
You may continue to access online services, such as e-books, e-audiobooks, databases, and other electronic services, through here through our library website or by visiting: https://www.masslibsystem.org. Social media links are available on this website.
Please DO NOT return ANY checked out items at this time. This includes Ashburnham materials as well as other libraries’ materials. The book drop is locked. You will not be charged fines during this period of adjusted library operations.
All library programs have been canceled through April 7.
For a printable PDF of this announcement, please click here.
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. Use of the charging station is provided free of charge for the near future courtesy of the Library. The two parking spots immediately in front of the station are marked for EV parking only."
The results are in for this year’s Summer Reading Program! Everyone did an amazing job.
224 Participants (Ages 0-18) 884.5 Hours logged (double the hours logged last year!) 381 Prizes were awarded!
Thank you to all of our volunteers, and to Brothers Pizza for providing pizza during our Kickoff Party and for their generous prize donations. Thank you also to the Friends of the Stevens Memorial Library for funding the fun activities at our Kickoff Party.
Lastly, we’d like to thank all of our patrons for making this a fun and "out of this world" summer!
The Trustees of Ashburnham’s Stevens Memorial Library are pleased to announce the appointment of Theresa “Terri” Anstiss to the position of Library Director, effective August 5, 2019. Terri received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, her Masters’ in Library and Information Science from Simmons University in Boston, and is completing her Masters’ in Educational Technology and Literacy from Lesley University in Cambridge.
Terri has a strong and diverse background in both public and school libraries having worked in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as a Reference Librarian, Assistant Library Director and Library Director. She holds a Certificate of Professional Librarianship from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners issued in 2000.
When asked during the interview process why she wanted to return to public library service, Terri said she missed the openness and warmth of public libraries and missed being able to serve in a community with diverse needs. She felt that by leveraging her experience in public and school libraries, coupled with her broad management expertise, she could bring the most value to a public library setting.
The Trustees are confident that Terri is a great fit for Ashburnham and will ably guide the Library for years to come.
There will be a reception for Terri on Monday, August 26th at 6:30 at Stevens Memorial Library. Please join us to welcome Terri to her new role.
This year's theme is: A Universe of Stories, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. It's 6 Weeks of reading, prizes, programs and fun—now through Sat, Jul 27th at 2:00pm.
Summer Reading at the Stevens Memorial Library was a big hit. Look at what you logged.
A new electric heating and cooling system for the Stevens Memorial Library is expected to improve air quality and help the town be more energy-efficient. Read more in this July 11th article from the Sentinel-Enterprise.
THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM BEGINS JUNE 26 this year with lots of events and excitement. Check out our Facebook Events page for lots more!
Summer is perfect for studying the night sky with our telescope! Adult patrons (18+) may reserve and check out the Robert Leahy Memorial Telescope for one week. Read the policy and call 978-827-4115 to place a hold!!
The Friends of Ashburnham's Stevens Memorial Library will hold a book sale at Community Day on June 25 and are currently collecting fiction and children's books for the sale. Book drop off is at Ashburnham Hardware, 7 am to 7 pm through June 3. All sale proceeds will be used to benefit the library. Thank you for your support!
We're pleased to add The Joan Kelly Memorial Zoo New England Passes to our collection of discounted attraction, event and destination offerings. This new program admits up to SIX (6) people – $9 per Adult, $6 per Child (kids under 2 free). Contact the library for details and to reserve.
Joan Kelly was an outstanding member of our community and a much-appreciated supporter of our library. We are very excited that we are able to use the funds left in her name for something that will make so many people so happy.
We are thrilled to announce that we began circulating C/W MARS on February 4, 2016. Here are some important changes to how you use the library:
If you haven’t already, check in at the Circulation Desk so we can set up your account or update your library card preferences if you already have a C/W MARS card. You will not be able to access Stevens Memorial Library services until you have checked in with us to make these changes.
If you already have a card at a C/W MARS library, you will be asked to select one card to use at all C/W MARS libraries.
Once your C/W MARS account is set up, your online log-in password will change; contact us for more info, 978-827-4115.
As always, we do not charge fines for overdue library materials; instead, you are welcome to make a non-perishable, non-expired food donation at the desk, which goes to Ashburnham Community Church Food Pantry.
Benefits of C/W MARS
New Due Dates Loan periods are changing to match C/W MARS specifications. The new loan periods are as follows:
Books and Audio CDs: 3 Weeks DVDs and Magazines: 1 Week Inter-Library Loan: 3 Weeks (unless otherwise specified) Museum Passes: 2 Days (unless otherwise specified)
All items will be eligible for 1 renewal. Please contact us with any and all questions regarding this transition! We are happy to assist you.
New! Our patrons now have free access to a collection of digital magazines and online courses in a variety of subjects thanks to two new library subscriptions, Zinio and Universal Class from RBdigital. Browse magazines on any device. See the many popular titles available on Zinio for Libraries with no holds, no checkout periods, and no download limits. Universal Class offers over 500 online continuing education courses. Enjoy remote access via the internet, connections to real instructors and other students, and Continuing Education Units on select courses. Information on account set-up is available at the Library. One-on-one training is available if you have any trouble accessing these services. Contact us at 978-827-4115 or email Margaret French to schedule an appointment or ask any questions. Try them now by clicking below:
Want to learn a new language? Rosetta Stone® can teach you - FREE - from anywhere and learn a new language! Your library card number works as your Patron ID. Login here, or call or stop in with any questions! The TumblePremium Collection from TumbleBooks has nearly 1000 titles with content for kids up to sixth grade, including books, videos, games, and much more. Click here to start exploring! For those in grades 7 and older, TumbleBookCloud is an online collection of eBooks and read-along chapter books, graphic novels, educational videos, audio books and more. Begin your adventure here!
Story Hour & Craft for young children accompanied by an adult is taking place on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Come twice a week. It's a different story every time!
