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Services

Who can borrow Items?

  • All BSU full- and part-time students, faculty, and staff may borrow materials from Maxwell Library using their BSU Connect Cards.
  • BSU alumni and Massachusetts residents – 16 years or older, with a photo ID – may obtain a Maxwell Library card for one year.
  • Only BSU students, faculty, and staff may borrow laptop computers (PCs and Chromebooks).

How many items can I borrow and for how long?

  • Faculty/Librarians/Staff:
    • 50 items
    • 4-month loan period for general collection items
    • 1-week loan period for CDs, DVDs and Laptop computers (PCs and Chromebooks)
    • 4-week for books (picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction as well as K-12 textbooks) of ERC General Collection
    • 2-week for ERC Test Prep Collection materials
    • 1-week for ERC Instructional Aids (kits)
  • Students:
    • 35 items
    • 4-week loan period for general collection items
    • 1-week loan period for CDs, DVDs and Laptop computers (PCs and Chromebooks)
    • 30 days for books (picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction as well as K-12 textbooks) of ERC General Collection
    • 2-week for ERC Test Prep Collection materials
    • 1-week for ERC Instructional Aids (kits)
  • Others:
    • 6 items
    • 4-week loan period for general collection items
    • 1-week loan period for CDs, DVDs and ERC materials except for ERC Instructional Aids (kits)

Can items be renewed?

  • Faculty/Librarians/Staff: Once for 4 months, if there is no HOLD pending
  • Students: Once for 4 weeks, if there is no HOLD pending
  • Others: Once for 4 weeks, if there is no HOLD pending
  • CDs, DVDs, and Laptop computers (PCs and Chromebooks): Once for 1 week

How can I renew an item?

  • Online – log into your Library Account, or
  • In-person at the library (Circulation Desk, 1st floor), or
  • Call 508.531.1392

If items are overdue, any overdue fines must be paid before renewal.

What types of equipment are available for checkout?

The library has a supply of electronics and related equipment available for checkout. This includes laptops, microphones, tripods, and more. 

The equipment is available for current BSU administrators, faculty, staff, and students. It has 1-week loan period and can be renewed once for 1 week.

For a complete list see Computers and Equipment.

Fines and Fees?

Late Fines:

  • Course Reserve fines – two-hour, three-hour and overnight loans – $1.00 per hour or part thereof to a maximum of $10.00 per item
  • Laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, and scanners  – $1.00 per day to a maximum of $10 per item

Please note:

  • Students are not assessed late fines for circulating items of General Collection,  but are subject to lost or damaged material fees for replacement and processing fees.
  • Specialty items and reserve items will continue to accrue the late fees. 
  • Some items, particularly ERC items, Group Study Room keys, and the One Button Studio key, accrue fines at a higher hourly rate and therefore have higher replacement costs.
  • All BSU students who accumulate $10 or more in fines or fees will have their library privileges suspended. Transcript and/or registration holds will be placed when students accumulate $20 or more in fines or fees. Maxwell Library Card (community) users incurring the same level of fines will have their borrowing privileges suspended until their accounts are settled.
  • Faculty, librarians, staff, and administrators are not assessed late fines, but are subject to lost or damaged material fees for replacement and processing fees.  

Lost/Damaged/Unreturned Item Fees:

  • General Collection and ERC circulating items (i.e., books, maps, musical scores, audio CDs, etc.): $45.00 for replacement and $10.00 processing fee
  • Children's collection items: $20.00 for replacement and $10.00 processing fee
  • CDs: $40.00 for replacement and $10.00 processing fee
  • DVDs and videos: $75.00 for replacement and $10.00 processing fee
  • Laptop Computers (PCs and Chromebooks): $250.00 for replacement and $10.00 processing fee
  • Laptop Computer (PC) bag: $35.00 for replacement
  • Laptop Computer (PC and Chromebook) cord: $15.00 for replacement

Please note:

  • Items will be declared lost at the point of the third overdue notice.
  • When the material is lost, library users will be sent a bill for the replacement cost and processing fee.
  • When the material becomes overdue, library users will be sent a bill for each overdue item. 
  • Borrowers may not check out additional materials until overdue items are returned or the bill is paid. 

Students returning lost items undamaged within 30 days of replacement and processing fee payment will have the replacement fee refunded. The processing fee will not be refunded.

Payments will be accepted in cash, checks, and money orders or with Connect Card flex dollars. Checks or money orders should be made out to: Maxwell Library/Bridgewater State University.

Please contact Circulation Services with any questions via telephone at 508.531.1392 or email circlib@bridgew.edu, or visit https://library.bridgew.edu/services/borrow.

Any other details?

Recalls

Maxwell Library staff reserve the right to recall books. When an item is recalled, an email notice is sent informing the borrower of the new due date. 

Refunds

Library materials returned in good condition within 30 days after replacement fees are paid will be refunded less any applicable overdue fines. There are no refunds after 30 days of payment for lost items. Items damaged beyond repair will be discarded. Damaged items will not be returned to students. The library does not accept replacement copies for lost items, only payment.

Holds

You may request a HOLD on material that is currently checked out to someone else.  You can request a HOLD in person by visiting the Circulation Services desk in Maxwell Library, or by calling 508.531.1392, or by e-mailing Circulation Services at circlib@bridgew.edu.

Traces

A patron may request that a TRACE be placed on material designated as available in the online catalog but not found in the stacks.

Library Lost & Found

Found items may be turned in to the Circulation Services desk. Items considered a potential health risk will be discarded. Articles of clothing will be kept for 30 days and, if not claimed, discarded or donated to charity. All print or paper items will be recycled or destroyed after 30 days. The owners of cell phones, laptops, wallets and other valuable items will be contacted if the owner's name is apparent. After 30 days, all lost items such as cell phones, wallets, valuable electronics, and BSU Connect Cards will be turned in to BSU Campus Police.