City of Methuen Annual Report: 2012

C i t y o f M e t h u e n A n n u a l R e p o r t : 2 0 1 2Nevins Memorial LibraryMissionThe Nevins Memorial Library strives to meet the diverse needs of Methuen’s residents forinformation, and for reading, listening and viewing materials for educational and recreationalpurposes. The Library exists to facilitate intellectual growth, serve as a gateway to a wider world,and to open up opportunities to the people of Methuen. The Trustees and Staff work to ensure anenvironment in which all users are welcomed and respected. The Nevins Library is an integral part ofthe community life of Methuen, and its mission is to make a significant contribution to the creationof a high quality of life for each resident of the city. (Revised & Accepted by the Board of TrusteesSeptember 11, 2006)BackgroundThe Nevins Memorial was founded as a private library to serve the people of Methuen as a freelibrary. The Nevins family fortunes had been founded on a dry goods business and ultimately atextile and exporting enterprise. The Nevins factory produced “Methuen ticking” which was usedaround the world. The library was given an endowment by the family which has been managedcarefully and contributes significantly to maintain library operations to this day.The Nevins Library is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees in accordance with Act 84 ofthe Massachusetts General Court (1885). “To incorporate the ‘Nevins Memorial’ as a Free PublicLibrary in the Town of Methuen.” The Act specifies that there shall be seven members making up theBoard of Trustees, two of whom shall be elected by the citizens of Methuen for two year terms. Theother five Trustees have no term limit and successors are appointed by the non-elected members ofthe Board. Act 84 also states that the “trustees shall have the entire management, control anddirection of the affairs of said corporation.” The Trustees retain entire control of governance, andthe library is a private, non-profit organization, not a Town Department. In essence the city contractswith the Nevins Library to provide library services to Methuen residents.84Hours & UsageThe Nevins Library is open sixty-four (64) hours per week, including four (4) nights and everySaturday (except during the summer months). There is public seating for 190 people throughout thebuilding, excluding meeting room seats. There are four meeting rooms – the Hall, which has a fullproscenium stage, a viewing balcony, and legally holds 250; the Trustees Room, on the Main Floor,which is a conference room seating 10; the Garden Room, adjacent to the Children’s Room, which isused for Children’s programs and adult meetings, it seats a maximum of 60; and the Group StudyRoom in the Children’s Room which seats up to 15, and though originally intended as a “studyroom”, is increasingly used for small meetings. In FY12 1,181 meetings and programs were held inthe library’s meeting rooms, not including usage for tutoring sessions.