Meeting Rooms

Please call the library (603-516-6050) for room availability.

DOVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Meeting Room Policy

The Library provides public meeting space for community groups and organizations in Dover and the area. The Dover Public Library endorses the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights which states: 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 or individuals or groups requesting their use.

The Dover Public Library has three meeting rooms available. Non-profit organizations may use the rooms at no cost. (Note: proof of non-profit status may be required.)

• The Lecture Hall has a maximum capacity of ninety persons. For profit-making organizations, the fee for this room, per use, is $60.00.
• The Trustees Room holds 12 comfortably and the fee for profit-making organizations is $30.00 per use.
• The Learning Center primarily hosts 2-person or small group tutoring sessions. If not booked for tutoring, a small meeting of up to 3 people can be accommodated. The Learning Center is not handicap accessible.  The fee for profit-making organizations is $30.00 per use. There is no charge for a tutor and a student to use a meeting room space. Reservations can be made by calling 516-6050 to book library meeting rooms.

All usage fees must be paid in advance.

• Checks should be sent in advance to: Circulation Desk, Dover Public Library, 73 Locust St., Dover, NH 03820.
• Payment must be received at least one week before the meeting is scheduled or the room may be rebooked for another group’s use.
• Organizations not pre-paid will be denied use of the meeting room.
• The Library will not invoice organizations, but will supply a receipt for fees paid.
• The Library will not refund usage fees if a group fails to show up for their booking, but will allow the group to change the date of their meeting (and reapply the paid fee) if the schedule allows.

Procedures governing the use of the Library’s meeting rooms are as follows:

Call to check with staff about room availability first. All Lecture Hall users must fill out a Dover Public Library Meeting Room Application before their initial meeting. Once this form is completed and approved, users may book additional meeting times by telephone (516-6050), if preferred. Users may need to set up for their event (tables and chairs) as necessary.

1. Meeting rooms may be used anytime during regular service hours of the Library.
2. Meeting rooms are not available outside of the normal opening or closing times of the Library.
3. No meetings may be held in any public service areas.
4. No fees, dues, or donations may be charged or solicited by the user for any
   program. Groups offering free introductory lectures prior to a paid course of instruction
   are not allowed. All programs must be free and open to the public.
5. Library-initiated programs will be given priority in the reservation of rooms. Speakers, authors,
   musicians, performers, or artists at library-initiated programs may offer items related to their presentation for sale to the audience at the event. City of Dover-affiliated meetings and programs will not be subject to usage fees.
6. Rooms will be assigned as requested, if space is available. In order to satisfy the
   high demand for meeting room space, room reservations are limited to once a week during weekday daytime hours, or once a month during evening or weekend hours. In keeping with the Library’s mission to promote literacy, tutors may be exempted from the once weekly daytime limits.
7. Groups wishing to book regular evening or weekend meetings at the same day and time each
   month (e.g. every 3rd Monday at 7PM, or every 1st Tuesday at 6:30pm) may only book their group one month ahead of the requested date. Groups wishing to book regular weekday (M-F, 9-5) meetings at the same day and time each month or week may book their next meeting only on the day of their current meeting. Tutors may only book their next appointment at the time of a current session. Tutors may have multiple sessions in one week, but must book them one-at-a-time.
   
   This is to give opportunity to other groups who may wish to meet on that day and time and to accommodate as many groups as possible. Groups who use library meeting rooms on an occasional or irregular (non-monthly) basis may book as far as six months in advance. Large groups may be required to park in the City’s parking garage, not in the adjacent library lot which is reserved for customers.
8. Programs may not disrupt the use of the Library by others. Attendees must enter and
   exit the building in a quiet, orderly manner. Children may not be left alone in the Library while a parent attends a meeting. Persons attending the meetings are subject to all Library rules and regulations.
9. Library facilities must be left in a clean and orderly condition. Refreshments may
   be prepared in the kitchenette, but clean-up, immediately following the meeting, is required. Users must pay for repair of any damages or any extra clean up costs incurred. The Library will not be responsible for materials or equipment left in the building by users.
10. The Library reserves the right to revoke meeting room privileges at any time.
11. Permission to use Library facilities does not constitute an endorsement by the Library
    staff or its Board of Trustees of the users or their beliefs.