Library Services

These Circulation policies have been instituted to insure equitable access to materials for as many patrons as possible. The University Libraries are open to adult members of the public, but direct borrowing privileges are restricted to:

• UMass Lowell Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni
• Friends of the UMass Lowell Libraries
• Massachusetts Public University, State or Community College Students and Faculty
• Boston Library Consortium (BLC) card holders
• UML Libraries Corporate Membership holders
• Lowell Public Library card holders
• Massachusetts State Park rangers

Other individuals may ask their public libraries to request UMass Lowell material for them.

Those wishing to borrow library materials, including Reserve items, must register with the UMass Lowell Libraries. You may register in person at the circulation desk at either Lydon or O'Leary Library. (A valid photo identification must be presented.)

• UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff must register with their UMass Lowell "UCARD" IDs.
• UMass Lowell Alumni must register with a UMass Lowell Alumni ID card (available through the Alumni Office) and a valid driver’s license or state issued photo ID.
• Massachusetts Public University, State or Community College Students and Faculty must register with a current photo ID from their school.
• BLC card holders must register with the BLC card issued by their home institution and valid school photo ID or driver’s license.
• Lowell Public Library patrons must register with a valid Lowell Public Library card and driver’s license or state issued photo ID.
• Friends of the UMass Lowell Libraries must register with a driver’s license or state issued photo ID.
• Massachusetts State Park rangers should contact Ellen Keane to arrange for borrowing privileges.

Patrons may check out materials up until 15 minutes before closing time at O’Leary and Lydon Libraries.

• UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff must present their UMass Lowell (UCARD) IDs to borrow items from the Libraries.
• UMass Lowell Alumni must present their UMass Lowell Alumni ID card to borrow.
• BLC Card holders must present the BLC card issued by their home institution at check out.
• All other patrons must present their UMass Lowell Libraries issued Special Borrower’s Card at check out.

* Material may not be renewed if another patron has placed a request for it.
Items obtained through the Virtual Catalog may not be renewed. Interlibrary Loan items may be renewable with permission from the lender.

Other types of material have different loan periods. The loan period is the same for all patrons for non-book materials. DVDs and videotapes are available through Media Services.

Overdue fines are not charged at the University Libraries. Patrons are asked to borrow responsibly and please return material on time so that everyone may use it fairly. If material is needed for longer than the borrowing period, it may be renewed online. If the overdue policy is abused, fines will be reinstated.

When an item becomes more than 28 days overdue, it is considered lost. A $130.00 replacement fee and a $30.00 processing fee is charged. A lost book may be replaced by a new copy of the same book in its most recent edition and a $30.00 processing fee. If the lost book is nolonger available in print, the fee must still be paid.

Fees may be paid by check or exact change at either O'Leary or Lydon Library:

UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students may place a hold on a book charged out to another user by placing a request through the staff at the Circulation Desk at either O'Leary or Lydon Library. The item cannot be renewed by the user when another patron has placed a hold on it. When it is returned, the requester will be notified via e-mail. The item will be placed on a "hold" shelf for 10 days. If it is not picked up within the 10 days, it will be returned to the book shelves. The University Libraries will not disclose the identity of the patron who has borrowed the item for which the requestor is placing a hold. Items owned by the University Libraries that are checked out or otherwise unavailable may be requested through Worldcat by UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students.

UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students may request books be delivered from Lydon Library on North for pick up at O'Leary Library on South. If the book is available, it will usually be available for pick up at the O'Leary Circulation desk within 48 hours (a little longer over weekends and holidays) of placing the request. Requests may be placed in the library catalog . When you find a book you would like, you can retrieve it from the book shelves yourself with no waiting. If the book is at Lydon Library and you are unable to get to North campus, you can have it delivered to O'Leary Library by clicking the Request Pick Up at O'Leary Library link (the blue box on the right side of the item view screen). You will need to login to your library account using either your UMS/ISI S ID number or you 16 digit barcode on your ID and your library password. You can set your password at this time. This delivery service is only available to faculty, staff, and students who have previously registered for borrowing privileges at the libraries. (If you have ever borrowed anything at UML Libraries, you are registered.) If you have not yet registered and would like to borrow material, please come into Lydon or O’Leary Library and register at the circulation desk.