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MHL As a Personal Care – Emergency Location

Town of Andover, Memorial Hall Library serves as a Warming, Cooling, and Charging Center

As a member of the Emergency Management Support System for the Town of Andover, Memorial Hall Library functions as a warming center, cooling center, and charging center, primarily in the event of a widespread power outage across town. The library is available to fulfill this mission because in 2020, a full building generator was installed allowing the library to maintain all power in the event of a town outage. A power outage can be unexpected or anticipated and although the response varies, the library reacts similarly in both circumstances.

Unexpected Power Outage

  • The Library Director or library staff are notified of a power outage in Andover from the Town, National Grid, or when patrons begin calling to ask if the library is open and if the library has power.
  • If the outage is localized, library staff will inform callers that we are open, have power and invite them to come in to utilize the space and charge their devices.
  • If the outage is widespread, library staff will retrieve the power strips owned and place them around the building.
  • If it appears the outage may last a long time, library staff will ensure that the power banks are fully charged. Power banks may be circulated to Andover residents.
  • If the outage happens on a Friday or Saturday, the Town Manager may request the library remain open until 9pm and if the outage extends into Sunday, the Town Manager may request the library open early at 9am or 10am.

Anticipated Power Outage

  • The Town Manager and the Emergency Management Director become aware of the incident, emergency, or disaster.
  • The Town Manager and the Emergency Management Director assess the need for municipal buildings to open, what level of shelter is needed, and which buildings can provide accommodations.
  • The Town Manager contacts the Library Director to designate the Library as a Warming Center, Cooling Center, or Charging Center, and determine the hours of operation, assuming it is safe for staff and residents to travel and access the building.
  • The Town Manager, Emergency Management Director, and Library Director will determine if parking will be free
  • The hours may be extended to 9pm on Friday and Saturday night as well as early opening at 9am or 10am on Sunday morning.
  • The Town Director of Communications will push out townwide public notifications.
  • The Library Director will notify all library staff, the Board of Library Trustees, and MVLC Directors.
  • Library staff update the website, social media, and phone system.
  • If the outage is widespread, the library will retrieve the power strips owned and place them around the building.
  • If it appears the outage may last a long time, library staff will ensure that the power banks are fully charged. Power banks may be circulated to Andover residents.
  • The Library Director will ensure that cups for water are available.

Memorial Hall Library functions as a Warming Center, Cooling Center, and Charging Center because:

  • The library’s location is well-known, centrally located, and has parking
  • The library is ADA accessible
  • The library has knowledgeable, helpful, customer-service oriented staff, familiar with the community
  • The library has electricity, water, and restrooms
  • The library has public networked computers and wireless internet access
  • The library has many electrical outlets and power strips for people to charge their devices
  • The library has public fax, photocopiers, scanner, printers, and telephone
  • The library has tables and seating for approximately 250 people