Core Values

Our Vision

Where our community gathers, connects, grows, and discovers.

Our Mission

The Demarest Free Public Library is a welcoming community partner offering programs and services that encourage lifelong learning, foster creativity and exploration, and inspire connections.

As a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), the library adheres to the directives of that group’s mission statement:

BCCLS empowers our member libraries by providing a collaborative framework made stronger by the uniqueness of its members. We demonstrate our commitment to collaboration through cost-effective resource sharing, shared professional development, and the fostering of initiatives to facilitate a forward-thinking public library system.

BCCLS Mission Statement

Our Goals

Goal One

Optimize available space in the community to meet evolving needs.

Goal Two

Increase public awareness and use of the library’s services and programs.

Goal Three

Build a foundation to strengthen the library’s role within the community.

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2023 Accomplishments

  1. Optimize available space in the community to meet evolving needs.
    • We weeded our media and large print collections and continue to update weak areas in adult non-fiction and juvenile Early Reader books.
    • We increased our OverDrive Advantage Plus collection and changed our purchasing strategy to decrease waitlist times.
    • We began creating monthly displays in the main reading room.
    • We moved magazines and newspapers to the main reading room.
    • We improved browsing in the children’s room with new and expanded sections.
    • We replaced the Stelfox St. doors.
    • We replaced the floors and baseboard trim in the children’s room.
  2. Increase public awareness and use of the library’s services and programs.
    • We experimented with new programs for adults, offering lectures on health, gardening, sustainable living, genealogy, financial planning, and history; concerts; food tastings; author talks; and take-home craft kits.
    • We ran a Peeps diorama contest for families and kids and a pumpkin decorating contest for adults and kids.
    • We offered special seasonal children’s programs including a teddy bear sleepover, Dog Man Days of Summer, a teddy bear picnic, and a Halloween costume swap.
    • We hosted several well-attended programs for teens, including a Super Bowl party, a Dungeons & Dragons club, and a Halloween movie night.
    • We offered many opportunities for teens to volunteer, including Teen Advisory Board storytimes, crafts and activities; a robotics course for kids; an AI presentation for adults, town events, and a Back-to-School Night Babysitting fundraiser.
  3. Build a foundation to strengthen the library’s role within the community.
    • The Friends of the Demarest Library received 501(c)(3) status, began their membership drive, and sponsored the children’s holiday party.
    • We held art exhibits from the Demarest Middle School and the Art School at Old Church, a pirate-themed storytime with Haworth and Closter Libraries and NVD High School students, and a penguin visit from Jenkinson’s Aquarium with Cresskill Library.
    • Our Youth Services Librarian visited the County Road School for special storytimes, hosted field trips for second- and fourth-graders, attended the Demarest Middle School graduation, and represented the library at the town’s Halloween Parade.
    • Our summer reading program featured weekly storytimes with local community leaders and the collaborative creation of a quilt.
    • We held author talks with two authors from Demarest.
  • 2022 Accomplishments
    1. Optimize available space in the community to meet evolving needs.
      • We have worked to update our adult collections in weak areas, particularly parenting and large print.
      • We added a new VOX book collection in the Children’s Room to help new readers.
      • We have increased our purchasing of eBooks and digital audiobooks on Libby to meet demand.
      • We purchased new, updated computers for the Children’s and Teen Rooms.
    2. Increase public awareness and use of the library’s services and programs.
      • We worked with the newly-established Teen Advisory Board to create new programs.
      • We hosted several popular teen movie nights.
      • Our Teen Advisory Board organized many well-attended storytimes, parties, and other programs.
      • We established a regular Korean- and Hebrew-language storytime.
    3. Build a foundation to strengthen the library’s role within the community.
      • We have worked towards establishing a Friends of the Library group.
      • We participated in the Summer Concert Series, Demarest Day, and the borough’s Halloween Parade.
      • We worked with community members to offer programs in the Demarest Community Spotlight series, including Yoga with Anat Lavie, a concert from Rhoda Tillack and her daughter, and a local history lecture from Mary Anne Clarke, Borough Historian.

View our 2015-2019 Strategic Plan here.