FAQ

• 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 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.

• 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.

 

• 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.