Services

Adult Classes

Computer & Internet Tutorials
Are you a novice at using personal computers? Do you need to brush up on your e-mail, Internet, or Microsoft Word skills? The main library’s Reference Department offers 1-hour, one-on-one basic computer instruction from 6 to 7 PM every Tuesday evening. To reserve a space, please sign up at the Reference Desk or call us at 978-921-6062.

Resume & Online Job Application Help
The main library’s Reference Department offers 1-hour, one-on-one resume & online job application help from 6 to 7 PM every Monday evening. To reserve a space, please sign up at the Reference Desk or call us at 978-921-6062.

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Adult Programs

Book Discussion Groups
We offer three separate book discussion groups each month. New members are always welcome. Come once or as many times as you wish.

Monday Mornings
“Monday Mornings” is a weekly lecture series for adults that runs from September through May at the Beverly Public Library. Coffee is served at 9 AM and the program begins at 9:30 AM. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please call Robin at 978-921-6062, or email flynn@noblenet.org.

  • February 8: “The National Parks on $50 a Day” with Gayle and Dave Overberg
  • February 22: “Caring for Your Family Papers and Photographs” with Cristina Prochilo Miedema & Carol Mori, beverly Archives Project
  • March 15: “St. Patrick’s Day Music” with John Archer & Dan Murphy
  • March 29: “Recovering a Voice for Equality: The Life and Letters of Judith Sargent Murray” with Bonnie Hurd Smith
  • April 12: “Historic New England” with Pilar Garro

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Computer Use

The Beverly Public Library provides public access to the Internet as part of the Library’s information services. Computer sessions are offered in 15, 30, and 60 minutes increments, depending on the station and there is a time limit of 3 hours per day. The 60-minute stations are for word processing only and have no Internet access. The library also provides wireless Internet access.
By using any Internet computer in the Beverly Public Library, you agree to abide by the rules established in our Internet Use Policy and may lose your Internet privileges if you do not follow these rules.
Black and white printing is available at no charge though donations are accepted and we do ask that you limit your printing to help conserve our supplies.

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Downloadable Audiobooks – Two Ways to Listen

We have a collection of over 1,500 titles in our NetLibrary audiobooks collection including book club favorites, and award-winning authors for adults, teens, and children. Titles are always available and you never have to wait for a hold. These audiobooks can be loaded onto any portable device supporting Windows Media Player (WMP) version 11 and above. They may also be transferred to a wide range of portable devices, including portable music players, portable media centers, Pocket PCs, and even select smartphone devices. Sorry, iPods are not compatible with this service.
To use this collection, first, create a free NetLibrary account, then browse the collection. For more information on the NetLibrary collection and how to download a title, click here.

And now we are offering audiobooks from OverDrive. OverDrive offers a few different kinds of audiobooks. Some are always available and others can only be checked out to one person at a time so you will need to place a hold on it. You can listen to the books on your PC or transfer them to an MP3 player. Some titles can also be burned to a CD and most can be played on an iPod. To use the collection, first, download the Overdrive Media Console version 3.2 and then browse the collection. If you need assistance, please refer to the help guide or contact the library.
If you do not have a computer, you can still download OverDrive audiobooks. Just bring your MP3 player or iPod to the new download station at the Main Library, select the title(s) you want and start downloading.

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Home Delivery

The Beverly Public Library provides a delivery service to people that are homebound. Patrons can ask for specific books and materials or a librarian can make a selection based on the patron’s preferences. For more information, call Linda Caravaggio at 978-921-6062.

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Interlibrary Loan

If you search our online catalog for an item and do not find it, you may be searching for an item that is not available in the NOBLE network. Please contact our Reference Department to make your request and we will attempt to locate that item at another library and have it sent to the Beverly Library. You may also try searching the Virtual Catalog on your own. The Virtual Catalog simultaneously searches the catalogs of over 300 Massachusetts libraries and you can place a request for any item with a valid Massachusetts library card.

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Library Cards

To borrow library materials, you must register for a library card or present a library card from the public library in the community where you reside. Patrons who have used a card already in another public library which is a member of the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) are already registered. To obtain a library card you must present identification showing your name and current address. Parents or guardians may show their I.D. when registering children. There is no minimum age limit and no requirement that children can read or write their name. Patrons who have come to the library without their card may borrow material by showing identification with their name and address. This does not apply to the Bookmobile where patrons MUST present their library card.
Your card may be used at other public libraries in Massachusetts and at some academic libraries. The Beverly Public Library honors library cards from other Massachusetts libraries.
Please view our Circulation Policy if you have further questions.

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Local History & Genealogy Collection

The Beverly Room holds our local history, genealogy and rare books collection. These books must be used in the library, but can be photocopied. You may also be interested in:

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Meeting Rooms

Permission to use the meeting rooms at the Beverly Public Library will be granted to groups fulfilling the requirements listed in the Meeting Room Policy. Permission to use the rooms will be denied to any group or individual for any meeting whose purpose is illegal or potentially hazardous; whose conduct would interfere with the proper functioning of the library; or whose satisfactory adult sponsorship is not provided.
To request a room, please call 978-921-6062 for the Main Library, 978-921-6066 for the Farms Branch, or fill out our online form.

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Museum Passes

Both The Beverly Public Library and the Farms Branch provide free and/or reduced rate passes to several Boston and North Shore museums thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Library. The library and community cooperate to make the museum pass program work. Very occasionally, a problem arises in the administration of the program. The Beverly Public Library is unable to compensate patrons for any inconvenience or expense resulting from problems such as scheduling conflicts, the late return of passes, or changes in museum hours and information. The library advises patrons to verify museum hours before making plans, and asks patrons to notify the library of any changes.

Reservations
The library accepts reservations for museum passes with the following restrictions:

  • You must be at least 16 and have a library card to be able to reserve a pass.
  • If you owe $30.00 or more, you will not be able to reserve a pass.
  • You can reserve 8 passes per month, but will be restricted to 2 passes during school vacation periods.
  • If you have made a reservation and do not cancel or pick up the passes, you will be blocked from reserving passes until 60 days have passed.
  • Passes can be reserved 90 days in advance and we suggest that you reserve a pass one month in advance.

To make a reservation call the main library at 978-921-6062, the Farms branch at 978-921-6066, or reserve online (see below).

Making an Online Reservation
Search for availability by museum (includes links to museum web sites)
Search for availability by date
View/cancel your reservations
Please note: Museum passes must be picked up at the library. Your printed reservation confirmation is not valid for museum admission. Make sure to note whether your pass will be available at the main library or the Farms branch.

Picking Up a Pass
Passes may be available for pickup prior to the day of use. Please see “Pass Details” which is found under the question mark symbol you will see when registering for a pass.

Returning a Pass
Because passes may have been reserved for several days in succession, it is important that they be returned promptly. Unless a pass is a coupon (disposable), it is due back by on the same day. The charge for overdue passes is a $5.00 per day.

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New & Popular Books, Movies & Music

NEW Fiction
NEW Nonfiction
NEW Feature Films on DVD
Audiobooks on Cassette
Audiobooks on CD
Downloadable Audiobooks
DVDs
Graphic Novels
Large Print Books
Music CDs
VHS Cassettes

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NextReads

Do you like to read biographies, history, science, travel adventures, mysteries, fantasy, romance? Whatever your interests, check out our new e-mail newsletter service, NextReads, which will send great book suggestions by email. Each newsletter includes new books that may be of interest and some older ones that you may have missed, with links to the library catalog so you can see what’s available and place requests for books you want to read. There are over twenty lists for readers of all ages, and you can preview them all online before subscribing.

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Study Rooms

The Main Library has two study rooms on the second floor.

  • There is a limit of one person (aged 18 or older) per room.
  • Rooms cannot be reserved ahead of time.
  • No food is allowed in the rooms.
  • Rooms left unoccupied for more than 30 minutes may be considered available. Any items left in a study room will be brought to the Lost & Found Area at the Main Circulation Desk.

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Wireless Access

Wireless internet service is available at the Beverly Public Library. Patrons with wireless-enabled devices can connect to the internet for as long as they like, without waiting for a free PC.
To use this service, patrons need a wireless device that is compatible with the IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g (collectively known as “Wi-Fi”) standards. Such devices include most modern notebook PCs and Macs, many PDAs, and some cell phones. The library does not loan wireless hardware.
Patrons who use the library’s wireless network must abide by the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy as well as all rules in the Internet Use Policy that do not pertain to time limits.
Patrons are responsible for knowing how to configure their own wireless devices. However, the following guidelines may help:

  • Before changing any settings, first check to see if your device connects automatically. If you do make any changes, write down your original settings so you can revert to them later if you need to.
  • Use the software that came with your device to set or verify that the Service Set Identifier (SSID) is PUBLIB, that the Wireless Mode (also known as Network Mode or Connection Method) is set to Infrastructure or Access Point, not adhoc, and that the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is disabled.
  • The device must be set to “use DHCP” and/or “obtain an IP address automatically.”
  • If you use Windows 2000 or XP and have multiple adapters, you may need to disable the one(s) you are not using. Windows devices in general may have to be rebooted.
  • If your device is a Mac, make sure you have selected the correct “location”.

The library staff cannot help configure your device, nor can the library be held responsible for any changes you make to your device.

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