Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I get a library card?
- How many items can I borrow?
- What are your loan periods?
- Can I renew library materials over the phone?
- Can I renew online?
- How do I reserve Jones Library materials?
- How do I get materials from other libraries?
- What are your overdue fines?
- What if I lose or damage something?
- What do I do if a Library's audiovisual item gets stuck in my car or home player?
- I'd like to suggest a good book for the library. How can I do that?
- Are donations to the Library tax deductible?
- Whose House was this?
- Can I use a library meeting room?
- Do you close for school snow days?
- Who's in charge of the library?
- Do you need volunteers?
- Where can I donate books?
- Which museum passes does the Jones Library have?
How can I get a library card?
You can apply for a card in the Front Office of the Jones Library or at the Circulation Desk at either branch library. To register you must:
- fill out an application (The application can be printed and filled out ahead of time. Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to open the file.)
- present a photo ID, and
- present proof of current address
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How many items can I borrow?
Children's Collection: Up to 15 books, records or tapes and 5 videos/DVDs may be borrowed at a time. Most items are loaned for 3 weeks, and videos and DVDs for 1 week.
In the General Collection: Up to 15 items may be borrowed, including 5 tapes, CD's or records and 5 videos/DVDs. Most items are on 3-week loan; magazines, videos and DVDs for 1 week.
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What are your loan periods?
Most items are loaned for three weeks and may be renewed once for another three weeks. Magazines, videos and DVDs are loaned for one week and may be renewed once for another week.
Items cannot be renewed if they are two or more weeks overdue, or if they are requested by another patron.
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Can I renew library materials over the telephone?
Yes. Please have either your library card or the items to be renewed with you when you call. Our phone number is 413-259-3090. We accept voice and tty calls.
Loans cannot be renewed for items two weeks or more overdue, nor for titles requested by another patron.
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Can I renew online?
Yes. Please see our instructions at our "Renew" page.
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How can I reserve Jones Library materials?
You can call us at 413-259-3090 (voice or tty) or use the instructions for reserving online.
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How do I get materials from other libraries?
- After you have checked our catalog for an item, check the Catalog for the C/W MARS Libraries in Western Massachusetts.
- If the item is not available in Western Mass., use the link on the right side of the page that says C/W MARS Union Catalog.
- The next catalog to try if the item is not available in the Union Catalog, is the Virtual Catalog (the link for this will be at the top of the page of the Union Catalog).
- If you still cannot locate the item, come into the Library and talk to the Reference Librarian.
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What are your overdue fines?
Most overdue items are charged 50 cents per batch per week overdue. The maximum overdue fine is $5.00 for returns that are later than eight weeks past the due date.
For videos and dvds, the charge is $1.00 per day overdue for each item. The maximum fine is $5.00 per item.
For the WALK-IN Collection, the fine is $1.00 per day overdue. The maximum fine is $10.00.
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What if I lose or damage something?
The Library charges for the replacement of lost or damaged titles. A list of standard replacement rates is available from the Library Office.
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What do I do if a Library's audiovisual item gets stuck in my car or home player?
- Notify the Audiovisual Department staff (259-3090 or by email at audiovisual@joneslibrary.org). We are willing to waive overdue fines on our materials in this case.
- Visit these websites for suggestions on removing stuck videos or cds:
Fixer Corp.
How to mend it.com - The Library is not responsible for damage to your equipment from our materials. You may have to take your player in for repair to remove the item.
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I'd like to suggest a good book for the library. How can I do that?
Fill out a request form at the circulation desk or send a suggestion via our website at the "Buy Requests" page.
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Are donations to the Library tax deductible?
Yes, contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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Whose House was this?
In the 1920's, the Trustees of the Jones Library decided to create a library building that would embody the image of "Mother Amherst welcoming her children" into a large, overgrown Colonial revival style home. The original reading rooms were designed to resemble living rooms with wood paneling and fireplaces, oil paintings, sculpture and oriental rugs. They very consciously rejected the Carnegie library style at the time which sought to create a "temple of learning."
In 1993, the original building was enlarged with a glass-roofed center courtyard and new Reference, Audiovisual, and Special Collections rooms. The front face of the library remains the same, however, and the interior rooms preserve its traditional homelike atmosphere. While some people seem to live here, this was never a private home.
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Can I use a library meeting room?
There are two meeting rooms at Jones Library available by reservation in advance. Groups and individuals must register with the Library Office and pay rental fees, if applicable. Use of the Munson Library meeting rooms is scheduled through the Bangs Community Center at 413-259-3060.
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Do you close for school snow days?
Town libraries close when other Town offices, not schools, close due to hazardous winter weather. Announcements regarding library closings are made via radio station WHMP - Northampton 1400 AM and TV Channel 22.
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Who's in charge of the library?
The Board of Trustees of the Town Libraries and The Jones Library, Inc. consists of six publicly elected Trustees. Their meetings are held once a month and are open to the public.
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Do you need volunteers?
Volunteers are welcome to work on special projects, such as book repairs, reshelving materials, indexing, and ESL tutoring. Fill out an application in the main office or telephone 413-259-3090, Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5:30 p.m.
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Where can I donate books?
Several organizations in the area are happy to accept books that are in good condition:
- The Jones Library accepts nonfiction and fiction books during the first 7 days of each month. Before dropping off items, please contact Beth Girshman (259-3090).
- The Amherst League of Women Voters holds an annual book sale at the beginning of May. Their number is 549-7443.
- Reader to Reader, a non-profit organization, distributes books to needy schools and libraries all over the country. Their number is 256-8595.
- Hands Across the Water, Inc. also a non-profit organization has a contact place at UMass. Call 545-9615.
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Hampshire County accepts only children's books in good condition. Their number is 413-253-2591.
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Which museum passes does the Jones Library have?
We have passes to 11 museums:
- Amherst History Museum
- Historic Deerfield
- Holyoke Children's Museum
- Springfield Library and Museums at the Quadrangle
- The Eric Carle Museum
- Boston Museum of Fine Arts (discounted coupon, not a pass)
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (discounted admission)
- Clark Art Institute
- Massachusetts ParksPass
- Mystic Aquarium (discounted admission)
- Smith College Museum of Art
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