Your Library Card

 

How To Get A Library Card

Joining the Forbush Memorial Library is free and open to Massachusetts residents and others under special arrangement. Adults, simply bring your identification (listing name and present address, such as a driver’s license) and register on the Main Floor. Children’s cards are issued as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian with proper identification. Young Adults must have their application signed by their parent or guardian. Your card will be issued and can be used the same day.

Please remember to bring your card to the library to check out materials.

How To Use the PIN Number

Your PIN number gives you access to your personal CWMARS account from your home computer or any public computer. When you access your account you can see what books you have out, renew online and can request books from another library.

To set up your PIN number, click on Online Catalog. At the top right of your screen, click on the red “Login”. Type in your library card number where indicated but leave the pin number blank. Click “Submit” and then type in your card number again, choose a four digit PIN number and confirm it. You are all set to use your account!
[top]

Loan Periods

  • Books – 3 weeks
  • New Books – 2 weeks
  • Magazines – 1 weeks (Current issues do not circulate)
  • Audio Books – 3 weeks
  • Music CD’s – 3 weeks
  • Computer CD’s – 1 week
  • Videos and DVDs – 1 week (limit of 3)
  • Reference books do not circulate

Fines

To encourage our borrowers to return materials on time, the Forbush Board of Trustees voted to initiate an overdue-fines policy beginning January 1, 2010. Anything checked out after January 1, 2010 that comes overdue will be charged the following fines:

  • Overdue books, magazines, audio books, and CDs (music): $.10/day/item ($3.00 max)
  • Overdue Videos and DVDs: $1.00/day ($5.00 max)
  • Museum passes: $5.00/day ($15.00 max)
  • A processing fee of $5.00/item will be added if overdue materials reach the billing stage.

Items 6 weeks overdue are considered lost. Books and other items taken out by the Interlibrary Loan system may acrue fines, so return them by their due dates or make sure to renew them.

For more information:
Library Director’s Letter on Borrowing and Fines Click Here.
Borrowing and Fines Policy Click Here.

[top]

Using Your Card at Other Libraries

You can use your card at other C/W MARS libraries. Patrons from other C/W MARS libraries can also use their card here at Forbush. You can also drop books off at other Central Mass libraries to be returned to their home libraries. It’s a great service!

Renewing Books or Other Items

Most library books or other items (such as videos, CD’s and Audio Books) may be renewed twice, either by phone, in person, or online at your C/W MARS account. If the item is on reserve for another patron, it may not be renewed. Materials borrowed from another library are subject to the rules of that library but usually can be renewed once as well. Please remember that other libraries usually fine for overdue books even though we only fine for videos here at Forbush.

Reserving Books from Other Libraries

You may reserve any circulating item from the C/W MARS catalog using the Interlibrary Loan System. Click here for more information.
[top]