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Library director reports growth in adult programming, schedule changes and outreach partnerships; trustees briefed on graffiti and staffing
Summary
Director Noelle reported higher adult program attendance, slower teen participation, a plan to open Sundays November–March instead of year-round, partnerships with the middle school and YMCA, a graffiti incident outside the Gordon Room, and continued staffing stability.
Library Director Noelle told trustees the library saw a strong year for adult programming and continues to expand services, while teen programs remain a growth area.
"We're gonna start opening Sundays in November instead when people are actually coming in and using the building," Noelle said, explaining the change was driven by low Sunday usage in September and October and staffing difficulties. The new Sunday schedule will run November through March and then pause in April and May when use typically falls.
Noelle described several operational and outreach items:
- Programming and attendance: Adult programs showed high attendance this summer; teen programs are growing more slowly in part because the library lacked a dedicated teen librarian at times during the year. - Consortium and patron cards: The library participates in the NOBLE consortium. Noelle explained that Danvers issues library cards to out-of-town users, which increases nonresident use of Danvers materials. - Federal/state funding: The director said the federal cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services that affected the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners totaled about $3.5–3.6 million; an email the director received the day of the meeting indicated a potential partial restoration in Congress, but she cautioned that funding had not been finalized. - Graffiti: Noelle reported a well-rendered eye painted on an exterior wall near the Gordon Room entrance; she said she reported it to police and would ask the Department of Public Works whether the paint could be removed. - Outreach and partnerships: The director described ongoing collaboration with the middle school, the superintendent and the YMCA to expand after-school programming. She also reported work toward a welcome guide in at least one other language, memory kits for circulation, and English conversation classes run in sessions. - Accessibility and inclusion: The library has offered multiple American Sign Language translators for programs, has installed hearing-loop devices at service desks and is expanding world-language collections (adult Spanish collection launched this year). - Merchandising: The library plans to produce staff and trustee T-shirts to support outreach and visibility; trustees were invited to provide sizes.
Noelle said staffing is currently stable but noted continued pressures around Sunday staffing and that the assistant director’s long-term absence had slowed some projects. Trustees and staff also discussed potential renovation planning and a planned site visit to Gloucester's recently renovated historic library building.
Why it matters: The schedule change and outreach partnerships affect when and how residents can access library services. The director asked trustees to be prepared for advocacy and long-term planning for a building renovation.
