Updated Hours & Fines

Beginning Monday, May 24th the Salem Bancroft Public Library will begin including more hours in their weekly schedule and fines will return to their pre-COVID rates.

The library will be open

Mondays from 1:00 – 6:00

Tuesdays from 2:00 – 8:00

Wednesdays from 10:00 – 4:00

Thursdays 2:00 – 8:00

Fridays 1:00 – 4:00

Saturdays from 10:00-2:00.

June 2021 Board Meeting

The next regular monthly meeting of the Bancroft Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

These meetings will be held in Proudfit Hall following social distancing guidelines. Members of the public should please email slm-director@sals.edu if they would like a link to attend virtually. If you have an issue you would like addressed at the meeting, but are not able to attend, please email any board member.

Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available by clicking the Board of Trustees link under the “About Us” category in the menu bar at the top of this page.

May 2021 Board Meeting

The next regular monthly meeting of the Bancroft Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

These meetings will be held in Proudfit Hall following social distancing guidelines. Members of the public should please email slm-director@sals.edu if they would like a link to attend virtually. If you have an issue you would like addressed at the meeting, but are not able to attend, please email any board member.

Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available by clicking the Board of Trustees link under the “About Us” category in the menu bar at the top of this page.

Special Board Meeting 4-15-2021

The Board of Trustees is planning a special meeting on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

This meeting will be held in Proudfit Hall following social distancing guidelines. Members of the public should please email slm-director@sals.edu if they would like a link to attend virtually. 

The meeting’s agenda includes:

  1. Accessibility Renovations Contract
  2. Any other business that comes before the board

Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available by clicking the Board of Trustees link under the “About Us” category in the menu bar at the top of this page.

Fresh, Free Produce at the Library!

In conjunction with the Southern Adirondack Library System and the Comfort Food Community, Salem Public Library will now be offering the community free, fresh produce on a weekly basis! Come into the library to pick up your produce from our new fridge located in the foyer. We ask that you only take what you will use.

Volunteers Needed

Bancroft Public Library is looking for volunteers from the community to give input on the library’s next Community-Based Strategic Plan. All ages welcome. Contact the library at 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu if you’re interested. Help us plan the future of the library!

April 2021 Board Meeting

The next regular monthly meeting of the Bancroft Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

These meetings will be held in Proudfit Hall following social distancing guidelines. Members of the public should please email slm-director@sals.edu if they would like a link to attend virtually. If you have an issue you would like addressed at the meeting, but are not able to attend, please email any board member.

Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available by clicking the Board of Trustees link under the “About Us” category in the menu bar at the top of this page.

Absolute Charter

The Salem Bancroft Public Library is pleased to announce that the New York
State Education Department approved its Absolute Charter application at the
Board of Regents meeting on February 8th. The library was required to apply for a
new absolute charter when the Village of Salem was dissolved a few years ago.
The Library then began operating as a Town Library with a provisional charter.
Our Board President, Ed Donoghue, would like to thank the Board members for
their perseverance and the many hours of hard work that went into meeting the
requirements in order to obtain the Absolute Charter.

Request for Proposals – Accessibility Renovation

The Bancroft Public Library will receive sealed Bids for Accessibility Renovation to be performed at Bancroft Public Library, Salem, New York.

Bids will be received until 6:00 P.M. on April 6, 2021 at the Bancroft Public Library, 181 South Main Street, Salem, New York, (518)-854-9249. Sealed bids will be opened and read aloud at the regular meeting of the Bancroft Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, April 6, 2020 at 6:30 PM, at the Bancroft Public Library. Bids received after this time will not be accepted. The Owner reserves the right to waive irregularities and to reject all Bids.


Contract Documents may be obtained after March 1, 2021 from John G. Waite Associates, Architects PLLC,384 Broadway, Albany, NY (518) 449-5440 in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

No bidder may withdraw his bid within 45 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

The restoration work on Bancroft Public Library is funded in part by a grant from The New York State Education Department, State Aid for Library Construction.


Attention of Bidders is particularly called to the requirements of the State Wage Rate Schedule, the Davis-Bacon Act, and to all other applicable Federal, State, and local requirements including affirmative action requirements

Please click –> HERE <– for a downloadable/printable copy of this legal notice.

March 2021 Board Meeting

The next regular monthly meeting of the Bancroft Public Library Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

These meetings will be held in Proudfit Hall following social distancing guidelines. Members of the public should please email slm-director@sals.edu if they would like a link to attend virtually. If you have an issue you would like addressed at the meeting, but are not able to attend, please email any board member.

Previous meeting minutes and agendas are available by clicking the Board of Trustees link under the “About Us” category in the menu bar at the top of this page.