Getting and Using a Library Card
Andover residents may apply for a
card upon presentation of proof of
address. A current driver's license is
preferred, but a picture ID with another
form of ID is acceptable (e.g. a rental
lease, mortgage, current utility bill,
or postmarked mail). Post office boxes
are acceptable as mailing addresses;
however, proof of Andover residence is
required.
Residents of towns included in the
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium must
obtain library cards in their hometown
library. The card can be used throughout
the consortium.
Residents of other Massachusetts
towns may apply for a card upon
presentation of your hometown library
card and identification showing your
address. [When your hometown card is
compatible with our computer system, we
simply add that number instead of
issuing a separate card.]
Out-of-state residents may apply for
a card upon payment of $75 per year per
individual and presentation of
identification. Out-of-state residents
who work for a company based in Andover,
including Town of Andover employees,
may apply for a free 1-year card upon
presentation of proof of employment in
Andover and identification. These free
cards can be used only in Andover for
Andover materials.
Children may apply for cards if they
can print their name. Those in grades 5
and below obtain cards in the Children's
Room and a parent must sign the
application form.
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You may use your library card at any
of the 34 online members of the
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. [A
bookmark listing all sites is available
at the Circulation Desk.] You may also
register to use any public library in
Massachusetts.
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We ask that you show identification
if you
do not have your card with you.
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Please report a lost or stolen card
immediately so you will not be held
responsible for any items checked out on
it. You may apply for a new card upon
presentation of identification. Your card must be clear
of any fines or delinquencies before you
can reregister.
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Once you have selected materials you
wish to borrow, bring them to the
Circulation Desk or self-checkout
stations on the Main Floor
You must
have a library card in our database and
be in good standing. If your card has
overdue materials, overdue fines, or
other fees of more than $10.00, you will
have to return items/pay fees before you
can check out items.
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Under most circumstances library
cards are not transferable. An
individual may pick up a reserve book or
held item for another person with that
person's card. Shut-ins may write a
letter requesting that a named
friend/relative may use their library
card to borrow materials for them. This
signed letter must be presented at the
Circulation Desk and is kept on file.
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You may renew an item twice by:
- Bringing it to the Circulation
Desk
- Calling the Reference Desk at
978-623-8401 x32
- Doing it yourself through the
online catalog. To renew yourself, click on
the Library Catalog icon on this
homepage, then access your patron
record (your account login) and enter your
library card number and your
password/PIN. Select "Items
currently checked out", then
check off the renew box next to the
items you wish to renew and then click
on the "Go" button next to "renew
selected items." If your renewal is
successful, a new due date will
display.
An item cannot be
renewed if another patron has reserved
it, or if your card is "delinquent"
(that is, if you owe bills or have $10
or more in fines to any MVLC member
library). Back
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The library has a 24 -hour bookdrop
on the Essex Street side of the
building. If you are returning a DVD,
video games, VCD, CD, or audiobook, we ask
that you secure the package with rubber
bands or seal it in a plastic bag to
prevent the case from opening up in the
bookdrop. The library will supply
special rubber bands upon request.
Borrowers who return unsecured items
that are found to be damaged may be
assessed a replacement/repair charge.
Items returned in the bookdrop after the
library closes will be checked in at the
beginning of the next open day. All
items in the bookdrop at the start of
the day will be checked in with the
previous day's date.
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The library charges fines only on the
late return of DVDs and museum
passes. However, if you return an item
here that you checked out at a library
with fines, fines will be charged on
your late item. Charges of $10 or more
must be paid before you can use your
card. If you check out an item and do
not return it, a bill will be sent to
you after 7 weeks. The item must be
returned OR paid for to clear your card.
If a lost item owned by MHL is paid for
and returned to us in good condition
within 1 month, we can refund the
payment. Your receipt or cancelled check
will speed up the refund process.
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You may reserve Memorial Hall Library
and other Merrimack Valley Library
Consortium items that are out in
circulation by:
- Requesting it yourself through the
the
online catalog. Click
on the Library Catalog link on our
homepage. Search for the title.
Click "Place hold." Log in to your
account by entering your borrower ID
and PIN number.
- A
Reference Librarian can place a
hold for you.
- Phoning the Reference Desk
(978-623-8401 x31 or x32)
- Some materials are not
requestable.
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If you require an item in our
database that Andover does not own, you
may:
- Go to
the Reference Desk or telephone the
Reference Desk (978-623-8401 x31 or x32) and
request that we borrow the item for
you, or
- Request it yourself through the
the
online catalog.
Click on the Library Catalog icon on
our homepage. Search for the title.
Click the "Request Item" button.
You'll need to choose a pickup point
library, and enter your borrower ID
and PIN number, or
- Go to another Merrimack Valley
Library Consortium library and use
your Andover card to check it out.
If an item is not listed in our
database, you may:
These items usually take longer to
obtain.
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If you've read/heard about a book (or
item in another format) that we do not
own,
use the
Suggest an Item for Purchase form on
this web site or contact the Reference
Desk for assistance. Staff members check
reviews of the item to see if it is
appropriate for our collection. If for
some reason we decide not to purchase
the item, we will make an attempt to
borrow it for you from another library.
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See Library Cards on this website.
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Notices are either mailed or sent by
email. A patron may sign up for email
notification on our home page or in the
library. We send out an overdue notice
14 days after the due date.
Seven weeks after an item is due a bill
is sent out. Billed materials must
be returned or paid for in order to
clear a borrower's card for future
borrowing. A borrower cannot use his/her
card if there are charges for fined or
billed materials totaling more than $10.
If you have checked out an item
belonging to another library, the owning
library may opt to notify you by phone
instead of mailing or emailing an
overdue notice.
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