Summary -

You can borrow from almost every library in Western Massachusetts using a Great Barrington Libraries card.

To get a library card you must have proof of local residency and a photo i.d.

Books and audiobooks may be borrowed for three weeks and renewed once for another three weeks.

Movies may be borrowed for one week and renewed for another week.
Fines are $.10/day for books and audiobooks and $1.00 a day for movies.

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CIRCULATION POLICY

 

Library Cards

 

All patrons are required to present a CWMars library card to check out materials.  Because CWMars is a state-wide system, all CWMars cards will be honored. 

 

A photo i.d. must be presented to be eligible for a CWMars Card. 

 

Eligibility for borrowing

 

Patrons who owe more that $10.00 in fines, replacement costs, or fees may not borrow additional materials.

 

Patrons who have outstanding bills for lost materials may not borrow additional materials.

 

Limits and fines

 

Books and audio books may be borrowed for three weeks with one three week renewal.  All other materials circulate for one week with a single one week renewal.

 

Patrons who have 50 or more items checked out to the CWMars system may not borrow additional material.

 

Patrons may not borrow more than 6 items from the “New” categories from Great Barrington Library holdings at a time.

 

Patrons are limited to 6 Juvenile or YA non-fiction books on a subject from Great Barrington Library holdings at a time. 

 

No more than 20 non-print items in a single category (e.g. DVDs, books on tape) may be checked out at a time from the CWMars system.  No more than 6 audio books and 4 DVDs and/or VHS’s may be checked out at a time from the Great Barrington Libraries.

 

Patrons who have three unresolved “claims returned” items on their accounts will be unable to borrow more items until these problems are resolved.

 

Holds

 

The maximum number of holds a patron may have on their record at one time is 20.

 

Circulation Periods

 

Circulation policies will follow those set by the CW Mars system, wherever possible.

 

Books and audio books will circulate for 21 days with 1 renewal for an additional 21 days. 

 

All DVDs, Videos, magazines, and periodicals will circulate for 7 days with 1 renewal for 7 days.

 

All materials will be available to patrons of the CWMars system with the exception of new materials and materials such as museum passes, toys and kits will not be available for interlibrary loan.  These will be available for circulation only to walk-in patrons.

 

Materials being loaned indirectly to patrons of other libraries not in the CWMars system (i.e. checked out with another library as patron) will have a circulation period of 35 days with no renewal. 

 

Overdue Notices, Fines and Fees

 

Overdue notices will be generated through the CW Mars system at one week and at one month will be sent out by the Great Barrington Libraries.  Fines are $.15 a day for books and audio books and $1.00 a day for movies.

 

Overdue items borrowed through interlibrary loan will accrue whatever fines are assessed by the loaning library.  These fines will be collected and kept by the Great Barrington Libraries.

 

Any items not returned after the second overdue notice will be billed at replacement cost, also through a notice generated by the CWMars system.

 

Bills not settled in 90 days may be referred to a collection agency.