How do I…

Library Access and Use Policies

What are the library’s hours?

- We’re open every Tuesday 1-7, Friday 1-6, and Saturday 9-1. The only exceptions are some holidays, and for very inclement weather. Notification will be made on the website’s homepage in the event of a weather related closing.
  - Holiday Closings in 2025:
    - Friday July 4th
    - Tuesday November 11th
    - Friday November 28th
    - Friday December 26th

How do I get a library card?

- - If you have a valid library card from any other library in the CWMARS system (most central and western Massachusetts libraries are members), then you can use that card at our library! If you’ve recently moved to the area, we can update your old card information.
  - If you’d like to sign up for a new card, just bring a photo id and fill out some information for us in person, and we can set you up in about five minutes.
    - We also have kids cards for kids over 5!

Is there a fee to join the library?

- - There’s no fee to use our library for any resident of Massachusetts; with a card you can also receive books and media we don’t have in Buckland for free through interlibrary loan from any other library in Massachusetts.
  - If you’re a resident of Vermont, you’ll pay a one-time $10 fee; if you’re already a member of another CWMARS library in Massachusetts, you can use that card and will not incur an additional charge.

Do I have to live in town to use the library?

- - Nope! You can live in any town in Massachusetts and use our library’s resources for free!

What should I do if I lose my library card?

- Come in to the library in person and we can replace your card for you, as well as update your account so you don’t lose any saved information.

Borrowing Materials

How many items can I check out at once? How many can I put on hold?

- You can have up to 50 items on your account at one time, which includes books, movies, and physical audiobooks (Libby and Overdrive e-books and audio don’t count toward this total).
- You may have one museum pass out a time.
- You can put up to 10 items at a time on hold through the CWMARS online catalog, and 10 items at a time through the ComCat catalog.

How long can I keep borrowed items?

- - Books and physical audiobooks are loaned for 3 weeks at a time, with one automatic renewal. One additional renewal can be requested.
  - DVDs are loaned for 2 weeks at a time.
  - Museum passes can be kept for up to one week, though it is appreciated if they are returned sooner so we can lend them to others.

What happens if I return something late?

- - We don’t charge fines or fees for late returns, and neither do most other libraries in the state.
  - If you keep a book or movie more than a month after its last renewal, you’ll be assessed a replacement fee for the cost of purchasing a new book. There will also be a hold on your account preventing you from ordering further books online. As soon as you return the book, the charge will be removed.

What if I lost or damaged a book or movie? What if I received a book or movie from another library that is damaged?

- Accidents happen! Let us know if you’ve lost or damaged a book that you’ve borrowed, or if you notice damage to a book you’ve received. If the book belongs to our library, we can take a reduced fee or an exact replacement of the book if you’d prefer. If it belongs to another library, we can’t waive fees, but we can send fees or replacement books to the library to help you remove blocks on your account. Check with a librarian for more information.
- We want to know if a CD or DVD isn’t working for you or if a case needs replacing. Tell us if you drop it off in the library, or leave a note in the case if you leave it in our drop box.

Interlibrary Loan

How can I request a book that isn’t in your collection?

- - In person, you can ask a librarian to search for a book in our CWMARS catalog and put it on hold for you; if it’s not available at a CWMARS library, we can check the Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat), which lends books from libraries across the state.
  - You can also access the CWMARS and ComCat catalogs online through our website; you will just need your library card number and PIN.

How long does it take for interlibrary loans to arrive?

- - Once a hold is placed, all libraries in the catalog that have the item are notified and will attempt to fill the request. This usually happens within a day or two. The requested item is then shipped by our courier service and checked in at the library on our open days. Generally this takes about a week for requests through the CWMARS catalog, and up to two weeks for requests from the ComCat catalog.
  - We check in deliveries we’ve received on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you have a hold, you will be automatically notified when it’s ready to pick up.

Can I return items borrowed from another library here?

- - For almost all items, yes! You can also drop off items borrowed from our library at other libraries in central and western Massachusetts.

- ComCat loans are an exception – they must be returned to the library where they were picked up.

- - - Ex: a CD borrowed from the Forbes Library through ComCat, which you picked up at the Buckland Library, would need to be returned to the Buckland Library. We’ll coordinate its return to the original lending library.

Digital Resources

How do I log in to digital services from home?

- Links to all of our catalogs are available on this site. You can log in to all of them with your library card number and a 4-digit PIN (we usually set this to the last 4 digits of your phone number as a default). Most of the catalogs have the option to change the PIN to a password of your choosing; however, the library will not have a record of your password.
  - We can reset your PIN for you if needed; you will need to come into the library with your card for us to do so.
- If you have signed up for a Boston Public Library e-Card, you will need to use the card number and password that you are given during that set-up process to access their resources. We are happy to help you troubleshoot; contact us to make an appointment.

Technology and Printing

Can I use a computer or access Wi-Fi at the library?
- Absolutely! We have three public computers and free wi-fi access at the library. Wi-fi is available from 7am-9pm every day of the week. See our Services section for more information.

Do you offer printing, scanning, or copying services?

- We do! One of our public computers is hooked up to a black and white printer; we can also scan, copy, or print in color for you at the front desk. If you’d like us to print a document for you, email it to bucklandpubliclibrary@gmail.com and let the librarian know.

How much does printing or copying cost?
- We request that you pay 10 cents per page for black and white printing and copying, and 25 cents per page color printing and copying, to help us pay for paper and ink. We generally limit printing/copying jobs to 20 pages.

Can I borrow a laptop, hotspot, or tablet?
- We don’t currently have these available. If you’d like to donate one for community use, please contact the director.

Special Collections and Other Services

Do you have a Library of Things or local history resources? Are there items I can borrow that aren’t in the catalog?
- We’re still working on setting up a Library of Things, but we hope to offer one soon! All Library of Things items will be listed in the catalog and we’ll add specific information on borrowing and use as things become available.
- Our Local History section has reference books on local and regional history, maps, Buckland town meeting notes, and more. Some are borrowable (those will be found in our catalog); some must stay in the library. Ask a librarian in person, or contact us via the form below for more specific information about this collection.

Can I borrow museum passes?

- Yes! We have passes to the Clark Art Institute, MassMoCA, and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. We also have two DCR Parks Passes that allow you free parking at state parks, and two passes to the Pioneer Valley Symphony‘s regular season events.
  - You can keep the pass for up to one week, and return it in our book drop (please don’t return to other library locations, as it will take longer to get them back into circulation for others if they have to be shipped).
  - Check our museum pass links on the homepage to see which passes are available in real time.

Do you have meeting or study rooms I can reserve?

- Yes, you can use our community room as an individual or a community organization, as long as you fill out an application, abide by the rules, and make a reservation. Please see “Reserve the Community Room” on the homepage for more information and to make a reservation.

Do you offer tutoring, homework help, or job search resources?

- We’re working on developing a homework help section with reference works for students, homeschoolers, and caregivers. If you’d like to donate materials or help with this project, contact the director. We’d also love to offer other services to our community – reach out if you have a suggestion or would like to share your talents!

Programs, Events, and Community Engagement

Do I need to register for library events?

- Unless specified, you don’t need to register in order to attend events or programs at the library.
- Check out our events calendar to find out about upcoming activities and regularly scheduled meetups.

How can I volunteer at the library?

- Check out our Volunteer page for ideas of ways that you can contribute.

Do you accept book or material donations?

- We do! Please see our guidelines on the Donate page.

How do I join the Friends of the Library?

- Friends of the Library help us fundraise. Check out our Friends of the Library page for details.

Can my organization or business partner with the library?

- We love to collaborate with other groups in our community. Contact the director using the form below to discuss ideas!

General Inquiries

Who can I talk to for help finding a book or resource?

- Any librarian on staff would be happy to help you! You can ask at the circulation desk, send us an email, or give us a call.

Do you offer help with research or technology questions?

- Yes! We can help with quick questions anytime, and we can also set up a tech help appointment if you need more assistance. Contact the director or fill out the contact form below to schedule an appointment.

Can I suggest a title for the library to purchase?
- Absolutely! You can tell us at the circulation desk or fill out the contact form below to let us know.