Library Policies & Information

Due to a lack of storage, the Library does not generally accept donations.

Please speak to the Library Director or Archivist if you feel that you have a donation that would particularly enrich the Library Collection.

The Friends of the Library hold an annual book sale in June. A week prior to the sale, donations are collected from the public. Please keep your eyes open for the announcement to collect books for the sale. All proceeds from the sale go to help the Library through the Friends.

If you are looking to donate books immediately, Savers in Danvers always accepts them. Other charitible organizations accept books, like Operation Paperback, Books for Troops, or More Than Words. 

The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers Trustees and staff members believe that
learning and information seeking are indispensable tools for ensuring an educated and
responsible citizenry. The Library aims to present a balanced collection on all topics.

The Library seeks to provide materials in a wide range of formats, as well as the
physical space, technology, programs and staffing essential to providing 21st century
public Library service.

The Library provides equitable service to all Library users, regardless of age, race,
color, religion, national origin, ability, gender identification or sexual orientation.

The Library Director, acting with the guidelines laid out in this collection development
policy established by the Board of Library Trustees, is ultimately responsible for
materials selection. The Library Director delegates this responsibility to professional
librarians and other staff members who are qualified via education, experience and
training. These persons are hereafter referred to as “selectors.”

General Selection Criteria

The Library attempts to acquire a broad range of materials in a variety of formats for
general use. New formats are always considered for inclusion; such items must also
meet the selection criteria in this policy.

Selectors consult new item reviews, bibliographies and collection tools written by
experts in the subject field.

Patron usage is the most powerful influence on the Library’s collection. Circulation and
requests are all closely monitored and may result in the purchase of new items and
additional copies of high demand materials. The Library enthusiastically attempts to
provide our patrons with the materials they want and request.

Materials should offer the opportunity for:
● Lifelong learning
● Maintaining an informed citizenry
● Improving occupational performance
● Entertainment
● Developing creative abilities and pursuits
● Keeping abreast of new ideas and information

Personal taste is subjective and selectors guard against allowing their personal views
and preferences to influence their selections to form a useful collection for the diverse
tastes and opinions of the community. The collection includes items representing a wide
range of viewpoints, some of which may be objectionable to others. An item will not
necessarily be excluded from the collection due to frank or offensive content.

The following standards apply to items considered for selection, whether purchased,
requested or donated. An item does not have to meet all of the criteria in order to be
acceptable.

● Appropriateness of subject and format for intended Library users
● Relevance to present and future needs of the community
● Popularity and user demand
● Currency and accuracy of the information
● Representation of trends, subjects, or genres of local or national interest
● Favorable reviews and inclusion in reputable resources, such as bibliographies,
catalogs, and professional and trade publications
● Comparison to the strengths and weaknesses of the existing collection
● Consideration of the work as a whole
● Durability and sustainability of the format for Library use
● Space requirements and processing requirements
● Availability of materials at other area libraries or via electronic resources
● Availability of materials for purchase by the Library

Requests for purchase of materials are given careful consideration and these items may
be added to the collection providing they meet the same criteria as all other Library
materials.

Donations and Gifts
The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers recognizes the potential value that donations
may add to the Library’s collections. Donations to the Library can be in the form of
materials or money.

Donations are evaluated according to the same selection criteria as purchased Library
materials. Donations to the Library may be added to the collection, discarded or given to
the Friends of the Library for their book sale at the sole discretion of the Peabody
Institute Library of Danvers. All or part of a donation may be kept or discarded.

Donations must be in excellent condition to be considered for acceptance.

Once an item has been donated, it is the property of the Library.

Library staff are not qualified to assess the value of any donated item and therefore can
only acknowledge, upon request of the donor, a brief written description using the Donation Receipt Form (Appendix A).

Collection Maintenance

In order to maintain a vital, current collection which meets the needs of our community,
the examination of materials is an ongoing process. Without a well-managed collection,
the usefulness of the Library declines. Collection management ensures that materials
are appropriate to the Library’s objectives, easy to locate, and attractive to users.

The ongoing process of Collection Management accomplishes several purposes:

● Analysis provides feedback on the collection’s strengths and weaknesses.
Usage data is consulted on a regular basis, including whether items are being
requested frequently. Patron requests inform the selectors.
● Inventory control allows selectors to assess the collection, identify lost
materials or damaged materials, and consider whether replacement is needed.
● Deselection, also known as weeding, creates a stronger collection by
systematically replacing worn materials, materials that are no longer appealing,
and inaccurate materials.

Materials that no longer meet the collection management objectives of the Library are
identified, withdrawn, and discarded according to accepted professional practices.

Selectors practice deselection under the general guidance of the Library Director in
accordance with established policy summarized below. The CREW Method is the
primary criteria used to assist selectors in weeding. Circulation statistics and other
online resources are also consulted.

Some other criteria considered for weeding the collection includes when the material is:

● Damaged or worn
● Superseded
● Replaced
● Outdated
● Multiple copies are no longer needed
● No longer useful
● No longer in demand
● Trivial or no longer trending

Local History Collection

Please refer to the Danvers Archival Center for information that describes the scope of
the Archival Center’s collection.

Reconsideration of Library Materials

The Library is willing to re-examine items in its collection at any time. A procedure has
been established to deal with objections to materials owned by the Library. No item is to
be removed or restricted because of a complaint except in accordance with this
procedure.

Upon request for reconsideration, this procedure will be followed:

The patron will be directed to the Library Director, Assistant Director or Department
Head, who will explain the Collection Development Policy to them. Please note that only
residents of the Town of Danvers are able to request reconsideration of any materials in
the Library’s collection.

○ A copy of the policy may be given to the patron if requested
○ After speaking to one of the above mentioned staff, the patron may fill out
and submit a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form
(Appendix B) if they wish to. The form must be filled out completely.

The completed form will be reviewed by the Library Director and one or more
Department Heads. The material will be evaluated to ascertain that the selection criteria
outlined in this policy were applied to the selection of this material. The Library Director
will deliver a written response to the patron within 14 days of the date that the Reconsideration Form was submitted.

If the patron is not satisfied with the decision, they may appeal in writing to the Library
Director within 14 days of their receipt of the written response. The Library Director will
then convene a Reconsideration Committee which will consist of two Library Trustees
and two members of the Library staff. The Reconsideration Committee will review the
material in full and employ the selection criteria in the policy, reviews of the item, and
the objection of the patron. The material will NOT be removed from the Library during
the review process. The committee will recommend a course of action to the Library Director within 30 days of the formation of the committee and the Library Director will inform the patron in writing of the final decision.

This policy was approved by the Board of Library Trustees on May 11, 2022

Printable Document and Forms

Only material from non-profit organizations may be posted on the library’s public bulletin boards.

When space is limited on the bulletin boards, preference is given to the library postings and those of local organizations.

Postings from non-profit organizations which are general and do not relate to a specific event (i.e., they are undated), will be posted for a month, if space allows.

The library reserves the right to remove any posting from the library’s public bulletin boards which do not conform to the Bulletin Boards Policy or are deemed unsuitable for posting in a public area. Such material will be discarded, not saved.

Rev. 7/17/2008

How Long Does It Take?
The time it takes from ordering an item to being able to pick it up can vary widely. Depending on how hard the item is to find, how far away the lending library is and how long it takes the lending library to process the request it can take anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks or longer.

What Kinds Of Items Can I Get?
We are happy to search for books, CDs or DVDS. Keep in mind that the newer the item is the harder it will be to obtain because they are usually checked out. In fact, we will not request CDs or DVDs less than a year old because they are virtually impossible to obtain because of their popularity.

How Much Does It Cost?
At present, we do not charge fees for interlibrary loan services. While some libraries we get books from may charge to lend but we typically avoid them. On rare occasions when a library that charges is the only one that has an item we will always consult with the patron on the cost of the item and whether they still want us to get it.

How Long Can I Check It Out For?
Typically interlibrary loan items are checked out for three weeks. We are subject to the rules of the lending library that sends us the item, from time to time we may have to specify a shorter loan period. Renewals are also at the discretion of the lending library.

What If I Lose or Damage The Item?
You are responsible for all costs associated with items that are unable to be returned to the lending institution. These costs are set by the library that lent it to us. In some cases, that will be the replacement cost of the item together with a processing fee. In other cases, lending libraries may impose a much larger penalty for losing the book. In either case the patron is responsible.

What’s All The Paper Work That Comes With My Item?
Most interlibrary loan items come with their tracking slip and a return label the we use to track and return the item. Most items also have a slip or strap from the Peabody Institute Library that indicates it is an interlibrary loan book. Please keep all the paper work that the item come with we need it.

The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers subscribes to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.

The Library Bill of Rights has been adopted by the Peabody Institute Library’s Board of Library Trustees on November 8, 2023

The primary tool for borrowing circulating materials, accessing online library databases, placing holds, and using in library computer workstations is the library card.

Who Can Get One?
Anyone. All current residents of Danvers are encouraged to obtain a library card from the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers. Massachusetts residents who live in communities that are part of the NOBLE library network are encouraged to obtain a library card from their home libraries. Everyone is eligible to receive a library card from the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, however some resources are only available to Danvers residents.

What Is Needed To Get a Card?
To receive a physical library card, a current valid photo ID showing name and legal residence is required to be presented at the library. Children lacking photo ID may have a parent or guardian with valid ID fill out the application on their behalf. Applicants lacking an ID that shows their current address may supplement that information with a mailed utility bill, bank statement, lease/mortgage statement, or check that lists said address. New residents who lack updated proof of address may request a mailed postcard from the library for address validation.

What Does A Card Get You?
A valid library card grants the patron borrowing privileges to circulating collections at both the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers and all NOBLE member libraries, access to online library resources (depending on place of residence), use of in-library computer workstations, museum passes, and the ability to request materials via interlibrary loan.

Obligations to the Library
Upon accepting a library card, the patron agrees to responsibility for all materials borrowed on that card, including any fines, fees, or charges. The patron also agrees to notify library staff if the card is lost, stolen, or if the patron changes address. Patrons should not let others use their card.

Obligations to the Patron
The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers is obligated by law (MGLA Ch.78, Sec.7) to maintain the patron’s privacy. Library staff will not discuss details such as borrowing history, account addresses, and contact information over the phone. In the event that law enforcement representatives present a valid subpoena or search warrant, library staff will only provide the specific information requested. Please note that this means the library cannot reveal to parents the titles of materials their children have checked out. Parents wishing to monitor their children’s reading habits should take an active role in their child’s material selection.

How to Borrow
To borrow physical materials from the library, such as books, CDs, or DVDs, simply present both the materials and a valid library card at either of the library’s two circulation desks. To borrow materials, a patron must be in good standing – no long overdue items or have $5.00 or more in fines and fees on their account.

Loan Periods and Fines
Patrons should be aware of due dates for borrowed items.

Borrowing Materials Owned By Other Libraries
Materials owned by other libraries may have different loan periods, number of potential renewals, and overdue fee schedules than those owned by the Peabody Institute of Danvers.

Borrowing Without Your Card
Registered patrons lacking their physical library card may borrow materials provided they have a valid photo ID whose current address matches the address the library has on file. Children lacking their library card will need an adult present with valid photo ID. If the library’s computers are not working, then only patrons with library cards may borrow materials.

Lost Cards 
Patrons should replace lost cards in order to prevent unauthorized use of the card by a third party. Replacement cards are free.

PINs
All patron accounts include a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for use on the library’s website. With a PIN, patrons may renew items, order items from other libraries, and place items on hold all from home. Forgotten PINs may be reset online if an email address is on file or in person at the library with a valid photo ID. PINs may not be reset over the phone.

Renewals
Patrons may renew items up to their renewal limit provided no other patron has placed a hold on the item. Renewals automatically occur if there are no holds or other limits on the item. Renewals otherwise may be done in person at the library, online, or via the phone. When calling, patrons should have the material to be renewed or their library card available. Patrons in good standing who wish to keep an item belonging to the Peabody Institute of Danvers but lack further renewals may do so upon physically bringing the item back to the library. The material will be checked in and, provided no other patron has requested it, checked out again immediately.

Overdue Materials
This library does not charge late fines for overdue materials. However, materials owned by other libraries may accrue fines. An overdue fine for an  individual item will not exceed $5.00.

Long Overdue Materials
Patrons should return materials on time. As a courtesy, library staff attempts to contact patrons with late and overdue materials. Failure to receive these notices does not remove the responsibility of the patron to return overdue items. Upon the mailing of the third overdue notice, all patron borrowing privileges are immediately suspended. However, once overdue materials are returned, borrowing privileges are immediately restored.

Damage
Any damage beyond normal wear and tear to an item is the responsibility of the patron who borrowed it. Patrons who notice damage to an item before borrowing it (loose binding, ripped pages, etc.), should bring it to library staff attention so that they will not be held accountable for it. Library staff will inform the patron of the cost of repairing or replacing damaged materials.

Lost/Missing
Lost or missing materials should be reported immediately to the library in order to prevent additional late fees being applied in addition to the replacement cost for the items. The library does not accept replacement items.

Where can I return materials?
Borrowed materials may be returned inside the library at either the Children’s Circulation Desk or the Main Circulation Desk. Additionally, there is a book drop outside the library. The library also accepts any material owned by NOBLE member libraries. Likewise, Danvers material may be returned to any NOBLE library without risk of additional late fees. The library can accept materials belonging to libraries outside the NOBLE network, but the patron may still be responsible for any late fees the items incur while in transit.

Paying Fines
The Peabody Institute Library does not charge late fines, however, some other consortium libraries do. This library does not collect fines for other libraries. Fines assessed by other NOBLE libraries may be paid at that library or may be paid online through the patron’s NOBLE account.

Paying for Lost or Damaged Materials
All  fees related to materials owned by the Peabody Institute of Danvers or NOBLE member libraries may be paid in person at the library by check, or the patron may pay with credit or debit cards by logging into their NOBLE account online via computer, mobile device or the online catalog.  The Library does NOT accept replacement items.  Checks for lost or damaged materials should be made out to the owning library.

Claimed Returned
When a patron claims an item still on their account was returned, library staff performs a search for it. If the item is discovered, then it will be checked in and all fines associated with it will be cleared. If the item is not found, the patron is still responsible for replacing the item. If the patron insists that they returned the missing item, library staff will mark it ‘Claims Returned.’ Patrons with multiple instances of Claimed Returned materials on their account lose their good standing status and borrowing privileges. The library recommends patrons check their account status online frequently. Also, library staff can print an itemized list of all materials borrowed on a patron’s account upon request.

Lost, Found
If a patron discovers a lost item within six months of paying for its replacement, they may return it along with the payment receipt to the library for a refund of the replacement cost. Late fees will not be refunded.

Circulation Policy
The Peabody Institute Library strives to provide fair and equitable access to library resources for all its patrons. The purpose of these policies is to ensure that every patron has an equal opportunity to benefit from the library’s collections.

NOBLE ecards
Patrons who do NOT already have a physical library card can apply for a NOBLE ecard to use for online resources. To do so, click HERE to apply.

Meeting Room Policy

The Board of Library Trustees of the Peabody Institute Library, Danvers welcomes the cultural, educational, and civic use of the Library’s meeting rooms within the guidelines of this policy.

Please note: First priority in the use of the Library meeting rooms will always be given to Library-sponsored and co-sponsored classes and events, and to such held in cooperation with the Library. Room reservations are subject to cancellation with one week’s notice if the room is needed for Library use.

Policy:

Library meeting rooms are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for the following groups:

• Non-profit educational, cultural, civic, political, religious, or professional organizations
• Agencies, Committees and Officials of the Town, State and Federal Government

Library meeting rooms are not available to groups/individuals for:

• Meetings of a private social club or organization
• Promotion or sale of services, except for those that are sponsored by the Library
• Private social or commercial functions
• Fundraising purposes; except for those that benefit the Library

Meeting room reservations can be made by a Danvers resident or on behalf of an non-profit organization located in Danvers or providing services to Danvers residents. Minors are not able to book a meeting room.

All meetings must be open to the general public.

No group or organization can book a library meeting room more than two (2) times per month.

Attendance is limited by meeting room seating capacity. The Library will schedule only those meetings which will not disturb other Library activities or patrons. The Library Administration and Trustees reserve the right to deny use of meeting rooms for purposes deemed to be disruptive to library operations. No promotion or sale of items or services is allowed in any Library meeting room, except for those events or classes that are sponsored by the Library. Except as a designation of location, the name and contact information of the Library may not be used in any publicity for a meeting. Use of the Library’s meeting rooms does not imply endorsement by Library Staff, Board of Library Trustees, or Town Officials of the viewpoints presented.

Meeting room use may be denied to anyone falsifying a meeting room request or failing to comply with this policy. Library Administration and the Board of Library Trustees reserve the right to refuse the use of meeting rooms to any organization, group or individual who has previously abused this policy and guidelines. The Peabody Institute Library, the Board of Library Trustees and the Town of Danvers disclaim any liability for injury to persons or loss of property of the applicant or attendees while using the Library meeting rooms. The Board of Library Trustees authorizes the Library Director to make exceptions to this policy and guidelines when necessary to further the Library’s goals and objectives. Failure to notify the library of cancellations may result in forfeiture of future bookings.

Guidelines:

Meeting room reservations can be made by completing a Request for Use of Meeting Rooms form. This form is available on the Library’s website or postal mail by calling the Library’s circulation desk at 978-774-0554. Room reservations must be approved by the Library.

• Attendance shall be limited to the room’s capacity as determined by the Building Commissioner and Fire Department. The applicant shall be responsible for adhering to capacity limitations.
• Room arrangement requests must be made at the time of the reservation. Any furniture moved by the group must be returned to its original arrangement.
• Meeting rooms are available only during the library’s scheduled hours of operation.
• The meeting room is not available after hours.
• No access is allowed into the building prior to or after the library’s scheduled hours of operation. Exceptions to this condition may be made in advance for agencies, committees and officials of the Town, State or Federal government.
• All meetings shall adjourn no later than 15 minutes prior to the closing of the building to allow participants time to gather their belongings and for library personnel to secure the facilities.
• The person requesting a meeting room is responsible for ensuring that all trash is placed in the trash barrels and all food is removed or properly disposed of.
• All persons using the Library’s meeting room must comply with the Library Behavior Policy.
• The person or group using the meeting room shall be responsible for the cost of any additional services deemed necessary by the Library Administration.
• The person requesting a meeting room will be held responsible for the orderly conduct of the group and for any loss of, or damage to, Library property.
• In case of inclement weather, or any other changes to the Library’s hours of operation, Library personnel will attempt to contact the applicant to cancel or reschedule. If concerned, please contact the Library by calling 978-774-0554.

Equipment and Refreshments

• Requests for the use of equipment must be made at the time of the reservation.
• Refreshments are allowed in the Gordon Room, but not in the Classroom. Permission to use the kitchen facilities and to bring in refreshments and paper goods must be obtained in advance.
• If food is to be delivered by a catering company, the person requesting the meeting room is responsible for taking delivery of, and for arranging pick up of, catering supplies.
• A LCD projector is available for use when requested in advance.
  • Group/Individual is responsible for bringing a laptop for use with the projector, unless otherwise requested in advance.
  • Rules and instructions will be available with the projector, but the Library does not provide operators or detailed technical assistance for its operation.
  • Users should be familiar with using a projector and related equipment. If instruction is required for equipment operation, the person requesting the room should request a training appointment with Library staff prior to the meeting. 

Prohibited items:

• Candles and other open flames are prohibited.
• Alcoholic beverages, unlawful controlled substances and smoking are prohibited in the building.

Parking:

• Parking space is limited.
• The Library’s north parking lot (adjacent to Sylvan Street) is reserved for Library users. Attendees at meeting room events may park in legal spaces along Peabody Avenue or the municipal lots adjacent to Pond Street and at the intersection of Holten and Elm Streets. Attendees must comply with all local parking regulations. The Library is not responsible for any fees incurred as a result of illegal or unauthorized parking of vehicles.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees on February 9, 2022

Both Peabody Park and the Rotary Pavilion are property of the Town of Danvers. Neither can be reserved for use or rented by private individuals or groups. Space has been set aside at Endicott Park for private events. Patrons can contact Endicott Park by calling 978-774-6518.

However, both the Rotary Pavilion and Peabody Park can be used at any time of wedding pictures or other group or commemorative photos. Permits are not required. Reservations for particular times will not be accepted.

Any questions about the use of the Rotary Pavilion or Peabody Park should be directed to the Danvers Recreation Department at 978-777-0001 (ext. 3094).

It is the policy of the Peabody Institute Library to prohibit all pets/animals other than service animal trainees and animals featured in programs sponsored by the Peabody Institute Library from entering the library.

Anyone entering the library with a pet/animal will be asked to leave.

Reserving Materials Owned by the Library
Patrons may reserve material to be held for them at the library. A patron must be in good standing and have a valid library card to do so. Such holds can be placed online, over the phone, or in person at the library. Library staff routinely gather held materials from the library’s collections throughout the day. Materials on the hold shelf are unable to be borrowed by any patron other than the one who requested the hold.

Ordering Materials in the NOBLE network
Materials owned by NOBLE member libraries may be reserved just as those owned by the Peabody Institute of Danvers. It may take anywhere from two to four days for material to arrive at the library if there is no waiting list for the item.

Ordering Materials from Libraries Outside NOBLE
Materials from libraries outside of NOBLE may be ordered via the Virtual Catalog.

Notification
The library notifies patrons with valid email addresses linked to their account automatically via email when a requested item is placed on the library hold shelf. Patrons preferring to be notified via the telephone may request that option.

Hold Duration
Materials are held under the requestor’s name on the Hold Shelf for five business days. After that time, they are returned to their home library or shelving location.

Picking Up Items On Hold
Patrons collect their held items from the library’s main circulation desk. The library card used to reserve the material is required. Arrangements may be made for relatives or caregivers to pick up materials on hold if the requesting patron is unable to travel to the library in person.

The Reference Department is available to perform Reference Assistance and limited Technological Assistance to patrons.

Requests for Reference Assistance

Requests for Reference Assistance may be made in person, over the phone by calling 978-774-0554, or via email to danversref@noblenet.org.

In most cases, there is one staff member at a time available on the Reference Desk. If possible, we will try to answer your inquiry on the spot. In cases where the Reference Department is busy or the Request requires a more time intensive, in-depth review, we will take down your contact information and work on the Request as we are able. If this happens, we will do our best to let you know how long we expect the Request will take. Please understand that this is just an estimate and that we will do our best to honor it.

We will take Requests For Reference Assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. Reference staff on duty will work on questions in the order in which they are received. Patrons may not direct their Request to any individual staff member, as this is disruptive to our workflow. If a patron desires follow-up assistance with an individual Request, the Request will be directed to the staff member who initially completed the Request if possible.

Requests for Technological Assistance

Requests for technological assistance should be made in person. Because devices and interfaces can and do vary widely, we cannot guarantee we’ll be able to provide Technological Assistance via phone or email, however we will do our best.

We can provide basic troubleshooting assistance and instruction for all online library services and library equipment. For more in-depth assistance, we may require you to make an appointment.

We will also do our best to help provide basic troubleshooting and assistance for devices and related software. Please understand that we are not software experts and may not be able to provide help in all cases. For more in-depth assistance, we may require you to make an appointment.

If you have been working on a Technological Request with an individual staff member we will try our best to assign the appointment to that staff member again, however please understand that this may not always be possible.

Town of Danvers Social Media Policy
Peabody Institute Library of Danvers

 As part of the Town of Danvers, the Library engages with the community regarding matters related to Library resources and services by posting on our social media pages. Social media pages are moderated. The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, as per the Town of Danvers Social Media Policy, reserves the right to block any user and remove any comments that are deemed abusive, defamatory, in violation of copyright, trademark right or other intellectual property right of any third party or otherwise inappropriate for the service. The Library expressly reserves the right to remove any post, comment or remark that contains the following content from the social media site:

• Personal attacks, insults, or threatening language
• Advertisements not relevant to library services in Danvers
• Obscene or sexual language and/or images 
• Profanity of any kind
• Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation
• Potentially libelous statements
• Plagiarized material
• Personal or private information
• Conduct that is implying, promoting, or encouraging illegal activity
• Any information that might compromise the safety or security of the public
• Any other post that is, by its nature or content, harassing, or may harm public welfare.

• Content in support of, or in opposition to, any political campaigns or ballot measures
• Comments or links unrelated to the posted information or inappropriate websites
• Commercial promotions or spam content

Printable Version

Peabody Institute Library of Danvers

Strategic Plan 2024-2028

 Vision: The Peabody Institute Library of Danvers seeks to be a center to enrich, educate, and empower the residents of the community and strengthen our town. 

Mission: Our purpose is a commitment to enhancing the cultural, social, well-being, and lifelong educational development of the community through its programs, services and resources.

Values: Access, Belonging, Community, Lifelong Learning, Respect, Service 

THEME: Community Engagement 

The Library will provide diverse and inclusive engagement with the community to foster a sense of belonging for all.

• Continue to offer diverse and inclusive programming options for all ages on a wide range of topics.
• Create and provide diverse and inclusive newsletters, book lists, and displays for residents.
• Provide physical and online guides to inform residents of key community resources and opportunities.
• Make the library a recognized space for learning about, discussing, and addressing key community topics and issues.
• Create opportunities for groups to connect, have fun, and gain understanding through art, history, literature, humanities, wellness, and civic engagement.
• Identify, connect, and collaborate with town and community organizations and groups to share resources and increase programming opportunities, especially schools and organizations that work with underserved populations.

THEME: Accessibility

The Library will improve access to its building, services, and materials for staff and all residents of Danvers.

• Purchase and implement use of technology and other tools to help in communication with a variety of populations and train staff in their use.
• Provide accommodations to improve accessibility to programming and training.
• Provide materials in languages other than English to better communicate with residents.
• Target outreach to underserved communities to increase awareness and use of library resources.
• Install consistent wayfinding signage throughout the building, including signage in Braille.
• Continue to regularly assess accessibility challenges within the building through accessibility surveys and other community input, and improve areas where possible.
• Identify, connect, and collaborate with town and community organizations and stakeholders. 

THEME: Staffing 

The Library will ensure excellent service by maintaining an engaged and informed staff to fulfill community needs as they evolve.

• Encourage staff participation in professional organizations, workshops, and conferences.
• Offer meaningful training for staff to build a welcome and inclusive environment to all, including, but not limited to, the following topics:
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion;
  • Service and language barriers; and
  • Service for patrons with disabilities and challenges.
• Expand wellness and team building opportunities for staff.
• Create relationships with community partners to provide training opportunities for staff.
• Perform regular evaluations of staff to improve service
• Investigate opportunities to increase staffing in the Danvers Archival Center.
• Provide training for staff to become more familiar with the Danvers Archival Center and its resources. 

THEME: Collections and Resources

The Library will develop, maintain, and preserve a strong and current collection of materials and resources in a variety of formats, which are discoverable and accessible and meet the recreational, informational, and educational needs of the community.

• Curate a relevant and engaging collection of materials diverse in content and format to satisfy the community’s reading, listening, viewing, and learning preferences.
• Continue to preserve and provide increased access to historical materials within the Danvers Archival Center through digitization, adding materials to the online catalog, and investigating programming opportunities.
• Create guidelines for conducting audits of the Library’s collections to determine where any gaps exist.
• Build collections in World Languages for children, teens, and adults.
• Continue to expand the Library of Things collection.
• Promote programming, collections, and services via a variety of outreach channels.
• Create a consistent brand kit to be used for all flyers and promotional materials.

THEME: Facility 

Transform Library spaces to improve services and better attend to the needs of residents and staff.

• Develop an action plan for incremental and long-term physical upgrades in the building to better serve and support people of all abilities.
• Apply human-centered design principles to facilitate access to physical spaces and resources within the Library.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees, December 13, 2023

2024-2028 Strategic Plan Committee Members
Ken Lee, Chair
Noelle Boc
Jennifer McGeorge
Shilpa Jacobie
Max McConnell
Jasmine Ramon
Philippe Hyppolite
Kathleen McCarthy 

About Danvers

Originally known as Salem Village, Danvers is widely known for its association with the Salem Witch Trials. Danvers’ total population (28,087 in 2020) grew by 6% between 2010 and 2020, which is slower than the general Commonwealth’s growth of 9%. However, the town is projected to grow at steady rate up through 2040.

 The groups of ages 18 to 39 and the over 65 population have increased in recent years, while the under 18 and ages 40 to 64 have taken a small dip in numbers. One-person households have increased to 29%, and over half of that number are seniors aged 65 or older. About 28% of all Danvers households have children, but the town has suffered a 10% decrease in school age children over the past decade.

 The Danvers population is becoming more ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse. While it remains about 92% white, it is five times more racially diverse than it was a generation ago. The share of residents who identify as Hispanic/Latino has increased 3 times what it was a decade ago, and the population of foreign-born residents has increased by 1.5 times over the same period.

 These statistics show that Danvers has an increasingly aging population, that will have more needs around accessibility and housing, but it also has a growing racially and culturally diverse population that will have its own needs. 

Process

The Strategic Plan Committee was formed in March 2023. The committee participated in a visioning and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) exercise The group agreed that accessibility and diversity, equity and inclusion would be major themes in the plan.

Fortuitously, the Town of Danvers has been hard at work creating a Danvers Strategic Plan to take the town to the year 2030. Since the town was already gathering data, the Strategic Plan Committee was able to look at the collected information from their surveys and focus groups about what themes were important to the town as a whole. The results showed that residents were focused on fostering a welcoming and inclusive community with activities that encouraged civic engagement and diverse events. Residents wish to maintain the small-town feel of Danvers and its close community.

 After reviewing the data of the Danvers Strategic Plan, the committee then created its own survey which was focused on the library itself. The survey asked in what ways people used the library, and also to share any programs, services or materials they would like to see, as well as an option to leave additional feedback. There were also several questions that were scored on a range that included how welcome people felt at the library; whether their interests and identities were represented at the library in the programs, services and materials; if there were positive interactions with library staff; and whether or not they would recommend the library to others. Demographic information was also collected to ensure that a wide range of the population was being surveyed. The survey was anonymous, and was made available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The survey was also available to be taken online or on paper, and was advertised through the library’s website, social media, newsletter, email, and through the Town Hall message board. 

210 survey responses were collected and entered into one database. Library staff made the effort to be sure to collect surveys from both library users and non-users, residents of assisted living facilities, town workers, and attendees at townwide events. All age groups were respresented in the responses. Respondents were overwhelmingly positive about the library, its programs, staff and services, however there were notes that pointed out the need to address accessibility as well as to maintain and improve library materials, services and programming for an increasingly diverse community The results were then assessed by the committee, and clear themes emerged. 

The committee worked on goals for each theme. It was decided to add a Values statement to the plan and library staff were surveyed to add what they felt were terms that best respresented the library. The finished plan was then presented to the Board of Library Trustees for discussion and was then approved in December 2023.

General: The Peabody Institute Library strives to provide a safe, comfortable environment for users of all ages. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety of unattended children and adults in need in our facilities.

Parents or guardians are responsible for the conduct of minor children (under 18 years of age) in the Library or on Library grounds, regardless of whether they are in accompany of their children or not. All library users, regardless of age, must conduct themselves lawfully, follow the library’s Guidelines for Patron Behavior use policies and be considerate of others.

Library employees are not licensed care providers and cannot take the place of parents or guardians. Furthermore, library duties do not allow staff to actively monitor facilities or grounds beyond their work stations. Please remember that the library is a public place. The library staff does not know whether the person a child or adult in need is interacting with, or leaving the library with, is an appropriate chaperone or a stranger. As in all public places, “stranger danger” is a real concern.

Definitions:

* Unattended Child: Any child under the age of 18 on Library premises unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or caregiver.

* Adult in Need: A person 18 years of age or older who, due to physical or developmental challenges, is incapable of adequately caring for himself or herself and his or her interests.

1. Unattended Children: Parents/guardians are responsible for the behavior and safety of any child under the age of 18 in the Library.

a. Children under the age of 8 must have a parent or caregiver within sight or conversation distance unless the child is participating in a formal library program. If the child is participating in a formal library program, a parent or caregiver must remain in the building and should join the child immediately when the program is completed. The caregiver must be at least 12 years of age.

b. Children ages 8 – 11 may use the Library unattended for an amount of time appropriate to their age and level of maturity. Library staff will take note of disruptive behavior caused by children who are apparently unattended. Library staff will inform children behaving disruptively or inappropriately of the rules. If the disruptive or inappropriate behavior continues, the child will be asked to leave the Library. If a child in this age group is unaccompanied by an adult or appropriate-aged caregiver, the staff will follow the directions in Paragraph 3. (below) for children found on Library premises without a parent or caregiver. Library staff may not take responsibility for the care of any child regardless of age.

2. Adults in Need: Guardians/caregivers are responsible for the behavior and safety of any adult(s) in need in the Library. As with unattended children, library staff may not take responsibility for the care of any adult in need.

3. If a child under the age of 8, or an adult in need in apparent distress, is found in the Library without a parent or caregiver, Library staff will:

a. Notify the Librarian in Charge of the situation.

b. Attempt to verbally comfort the individual, if necessary. Do not lay hands on or touch them.

c. Locate the parent/guardian or caregiver in the Library and explain the Unattended Child/Adult in Need Policy.

d. Attempt to contact the parent/guardian or caregiver who is not in the Library and ask him or her to come to the library and pick up the child or adult in need. Staff will express the Library’s concern for the individual’s safety and explain the Unattended Child/Adult in Need Policy.

e. Should attempts to contact the parent/guardian of the unattended child/adult in need prove unsuccessful, call the Danvers Police Department, which will assist in the successful resolution of the situation

f. Encourage an unattended child/adult in need to contact the parent/guardian or caregiver if it is within 15 minutes of closing time or in the case of an emergency closure of the facility due to inclement weather, utility failure or other qualifying condition. If a parent/guardian or caregiver cannot be reached or does not arrive by closing time, Library staff will call the Danvers Police Department, which will assist in the successful resolution of the situation.

g. Remain with the individual until the parent/guardian or caregiver arrives or until police resolve the situation.

h. Leave a note on the front and rear doors of the Library if police take custody of an unattended child/adult in need stating “Unattended [‘child’ or ‘adult in need’] is in the custody of the Danvers Police Department, 120 Ash Street, 978-774-1212.” The name of the individual will not be stated on the note.

i. Library staff may not transport or accompany any child/adult in need from the Library to another location.

User Behavior Policy

Guidelines for User Behavior at the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers

It is important for all users to be able to use Library materials and services without being disturbed or hindered by other Library users, and for Library patrons and employees to have the right to work in an environment that is secure and comfortable.  

The Board of Library Trustees has established these guidelines for behavior in the Library to encourage an atmosphere that promotes the use and enjoyment of the Library’s resources and protects the public, staff, materials, equipment, and building. 

The following guidelines must be observed:

1. Patrons may not engage in aggressive or threatening behavior towards other patrons or staff members including, but not limited to, violence, threats of violence, possession of weapons or items that can be employed as weapons, or loud, abusive, and offensive language, including hate speech.
2. Smoking, vaping, alcohol, or drug use in any part of the Library building by staff, patrons, or visitors, is prohibited.
3. Patrons may not damage, deface, or misuse any Library materials or property. 
4. Patrons may not create a disturbance by making noise, talking loudly, yelling, or engaging in disruptive behavior.
5. Patrons may not willfully disrupt meetings, events or programs that are being held in the Library.
6. The Library is not responsible for personal belongings left unattended. The Library is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen personal items. 
7. Library patrons are required to wear shoes and be fully clothed in the Library. 
8. Patrons may not sleep in the Library.
9. Due to public and fire safety precautions, patrons may not block stairways, access to stairways, Library exits or aisles within the Library. 
10. Patrons may not enter work spaces or office areas marked as “Staff Only”.
11. The Children’s Room and its resources are intended for children and their caregivers. Adults or teens who are not accompanied by children may access the room to retrieve materials for use or check out.
12. Children under the age of eight (8) are not to be left unattended (beyond sight or conversation distance) by guardians or caregivers. 
13. The Teen Room and its resources are intended for teens in grades 6 to 12 and use of the room is limited to teens. Adults and younger children may access the space to retrieve materials for use or check out. 
14. Photography or filming of library patrons without their permission is discouraged.
15. No commercial or media photography or filming of the Library may occur without permission of the Library Director. 
16. Leaflets, pamphlets or other materials may not be distributed within the Library or on the property.
17. In an effort to keep Library phone lines available for incoming calls, patrons needing to use a Library phone may only do so in emergency situations. In an emergency situation, patrons are permitted to make one call using the Library phone. 
18. Cell phones may only be used in designated areas of the building. 
19. Audible devices must be used with headphones that are set at a reasonable volume.
20. Patrons may consume small individually wrapped snack items, or lidded/covered drinks in the Library. Food and drink may not be consumed by any public computer or in the Archival Center.
21. Rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, large sporting equipment, or similar items may not be brought into or used in the Library.
22. Only designated service animals are allowed in the library.
23. All patrons must leave promptly at closing time.

Failure to Follow the User Behavior Guidelines

The staff reserves the right to request any Library user who violates these Guidelines to leave.  The individual will be expected to do so immediately and in a peaceful and orderly manner.

If the offender refuses to follow staff requests or staff feels there is potential danger to people or property, the police will be called. 

If an individual continues to ignore warnings issued by staff and/or the police, the Library Director has the right to ban the individual from the Library for a specified period of time. 

When an individual’s use has been limited or denied, they shall be notified in writing stating the reasons and the terms. 

An individual whose access to the Library has been limited or denied may appeal the decision by submitting a letter in writing to the Board of the Library Trustees within 30 days of the date of the notice.

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees on June 14, 2023

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