Maxwell Library Services for Bridgewater Residents

As an academic library, Maxwell Library’s primary clientele are the students, faculty and staff of the University. The collections support the pedagogical, research and scholarship needs and interests of this particular academic community. Although one of the University’s key missions is to serve the residents of the southeast Massachusetts region, the tenor of the Library’s collection is scholarly and suited for information discovery. Maxwell Library provides learning spaces for students, faculty and community members. Maxwell Library has a long-standing agreement to assist the town residents with their research needs. Below is a brief description of the services provided to local residents.

Borrowing privileges:

To register for a borrower’s card, Bridgewater residents must do so in person at the Circulation Desk. Each resident must present a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or an RMV ID with current address. Borrower’s cards will be issued only to residents 16 years of age and older. Once registered, the borrower’s card is valid for one year from the issue date. This free service is offered to Bridgewater residents only.

Residents with borrower’s card are allowed to check out up to 6 (six) items from the Library’s circulating collections at one time. This includes books, DVDs, videos, and audio compact disks and cassettes.

• The loan period for books, music scores and children’s books is 30 days.
• The loan period for DVDs, videos, and audio CDs and cassettes is 3 days.

Residents are free to browse and use on site newspapers, periodicals, reference materials and all other non-circulating items. Fines are assessed for overdue items (up to $10.00 per item); replacement fees will be assessed if library materials are lost or damaged (up to $125.00 per item).

Electronic Services:

To use the Library’s electronic databases, e-books and online periodicals, residents must request a temporary guest account (username and password) at the Reference Desk by presenting a valid picture ID. The guest account is valid only for the day it is issued and expires when the Library closes. Please be aware that guest accounts are available 15 minutes after the Library opens and that the Library stops distributing guest accounts 30 minutes before closing. Guest accounts allow residents to print up to 15 pages free of charge. [NOTE: Another option is a guest account with unlimited printing capability and each page printed costs $0.15.] Please be advised, there are no Internet filters on any public computer, and all users of college computers must abide by the University’s Acceptable Use policy.

Reference Services:

Librarians and staff teach users how to develop research strategies and conduct research enquiries; we guide users into becoming independent researchers and life-long learners. Any community resident who needs help with research projects should contact the Reference Desk (508.531.1394) or the Education Resource Center (508.531.1304).

Services NOT available:

• Interlibrary loan and document delivery
• The Virtual Catalog

• Staff pulling requested items from the shelves and holding them at the Circulation Desk

Please be advised-the Library does have an Unattended Children Policy.

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, the University cannot accommodate requests for meeting spaces.