Library FAQ

Any adult resident of any city or town in Massachusetts may obtain a Swampscott Public Library Card. Simply bring in identification with your current address, such as a piece of U.S. mail or a valid driver’s license, fill out a short form at the Main Desk, and you will be issued a free library card. If you already have a library card issued by any NOBLE library, you may use that card at the Swampscott Library without registering for another card.

Children can obtain a library card with a parent or guardian’s signature of authorization. Young Adults age 13 and above may obtain a library card without an adult’s authorization with proof of current residency such as a piece of U.S. mail.

If your library card becomes misplaced, stop by the library or call us to report it missing. A staff member will issue you a new card for a $1.00 replacement fee and deactivate your lost card.

We now have automatic renewal here at the library! This is only for Swampscott items, however, and does not include items for other libraries (unless they participate in automatic renewal).

Please note that the message you receive two days before your items are due will still go out, however, if the items are from Swampscott and there are no holds on them, and they have renewals left, they will be automatically renewed on the day they are due. A message will then be generated that says they have been renewed, but it will also tell you what was not renewed. At that point you can check your account to find out why, or call us to find out. (781-596-8867).

Returning Materials

Materials may be brought to the Main Desk as you enter the library or placed in the book drop located to the right of the front door. Children’s materials should also be returned to the Main Desk. Items borrowed from nearby libraries may be returned at the Swampscott Library, and if it is more convenient for you, Swampscott materials may be returned at other libraries in the area. Disclaimer: If you return materials to the Swampscott Library that are not owned by any of the libraries within the NOBLE network, the Swampscott Library cannot check the item in and we cannot be held responsible if the item becomes lost or overdue in the delivery process.

Loan Periods

Whether you need a book from a library in the next town or from across the country, our Reference Staff can help. If the material you need is within the NOBLE (North of Boston Library Exchange) network of libraries, you may call or stop by our library to request that the material be delivered to our library for you. Also, you can place holds on materials within the NOBLE network from any online computer using your library card and PIN.

The Commonwealth Catalog links most of the library networks in Massachusetts to provide a single search and request capability statewide for materials not available to your library through the NOBLE catalog. The Commonwealth Catalog log-in is available on the Swampscott Public Library catalog. Commonwealth Catalog

Even if our local network of libraries does not have the item you are looking for, most of the time we can still acquire the materials you are requesting from libraries throughout the country. For further information on this aspect of Interlibrary Loan Services, please contact the Reference Department at 781-596-8867 x 3304.

Loan Periods

Fines

The Swampscott Public Library is no longer charging overdue fines for most Swampscott library items. If Swampscott Library materials are not returned, replacement fees will still apply, and patron records will be blocked until the item is returned or paid for. Once those items are returned to the Library, there will no longer be a penalty for being returned late. Fines and fees for items borrowed from other libraries are set by the owning library, so those may still apply.

Bills can be paid at the Main Desk of the library using cash or checks. Library patrons can also pay bills from home using a credit or debit card. MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted and processing is done through one of the most secure credit card processors in the industry. User’s accounts will clear almost immediately when the credit card transaction is completed. On statements, LIBRARY-NOBLE will denote payments to any North of Boston library. This is a self-service function, the Library staff cannot accept credit/debit payments at the library. Photocopying and computer printing cannot be paid by credit or debit cards. To pay charges, start by accessing your account at https://evergreen.noblenet.org. Enter your library card number and your PIN number (PIN numbers are obtainable at the Main Desk of the library). You can pay all charges or you can uncheck items you do not wish to pay, then press the “Pay Selected Charges” button. The screen will refresh to allow you to enter your credit card information. The minimum charge payable is $1.01.

Your online account will allow you to request or renew library items online as well as view your current and past checkouts.

You can access your account online with your library card number and a PIN number. You can obtain a PIN at the library by presenting your library card and an ID such as a license or piece of US mail that has been delivered to you.

You can access your account through the library catalog or through this link.

eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines can be downloaded through OverDrive and the Overdrive app, Libby, which is available free from your favorite App store.

To find magazines on the Libby App, tap Explore then tap Guide: Magazines.

Overdrive is available to residents of NOBLE communities who have library cards.

We also offer Hoopla which offers a wide-array of e-materials, from streaming movies to audiobooks.

If you or someone you know is homebound and unable to visit the library in person, please let us know. Whether you are permanently homebound or recovering from a temporary illness, the Swampscott Library has some wonderful volunteers who can deliver books to your home.

Learn more about the program on our Homebound Delivery page or contact the library at 781-596-8867 x 3300 for more information.

To reserve a room please fill out our Room Booking Form.

For more information on our available meeting room, visit the Library Services page.

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Swampscott Public Library, the Swampscott Public Library has museum passes available to borrow – check our Museum Passes page for a complete list. We encourage you to reserve your pass at least several days in advance. If you wish to reserve passes for a holiday or school vacation week, please plan ahead and reserve early.

Visit our Library Services page for more information on technology offerings.

There are many ways to help support the library:

Swampscott Public Library Investment Trust
Trustees of the Swampscott Library established this 501c3 to fund major capital improvements to the library. Donations can be made on a one-time basis or through a bequest. For further information please contact the Library Director at 781-596-8867 x 3301.

Friends of the Swampscott Public Library is a 501c3 non-profit organization that accepts donations. It is dedicated to support the library by purchasing museum passes, providing a monthly newsletter, and funding adult and children’s programming. The Friends also support other various needs of the library.  Donations can be mailed to:

Treasurer
Friends of the Swampscott Public Library
PO Box 28, Swampscott, MA 01907-0028

General Monetary Gifts
At the discretion of the Selectmen, the library can accept restricted and non-restricted monetary donations.

Commemoration
To honor a friend or family member, you can donate funds for the purchase of books in which a bookplate would be placed honoring the recipient.