Westfield Athenaeum Library
Borrowing Materials From Other Libraries
C/WMARS libraries:
With your Westfield Athenaeum library card, you may borrow directly from any of the 80+ circulating libraries in the C/WMARS network, either in person or electronically through the online catalog. If you need assistance, please contact us at 413-568-7833.
Most C/WMARS libraries use the same loan periods, fine policies, and other rules as we do, but there may be some differences. These all apply to you when you borrow materials from their libraries.
If we do not own the material you want, it may be available from another source. You may be able to request it online yourself or you may ask a staff member to place a request for you.
Here's what to do:
Check the catalog in Western Massachusetts
First, check the C/WMARS online catalog. It lists the collections in C/WMARS member libraries in Western Massachusetts.
Go to the other library
If you find the material you want, you can go to the other library and borrow it directly with your library card.
Or request it online.
- Click the REQUEST button and enter your library card number and PIN number.
- Select the library where you want to pick up the material.
- Click Submit Request.
Didn't find what you wanted in Western Mass.?
Check the Central Massachusetts Catalog
If you don't find what you want in the Western Mass. catalog, click the C/WMARS UNION CATALOG button to search the catalogs of member libraries in Central Massachusetts.
Go to the other library
If you find the material you want, you can go to the other library and borrow it directly with your Westfield Athenaeum Library card.
Or request it online
- Click the REQUEST button.
- Choose your region from the drop down menu. Westfield is in the Western Region.
- Enter your library card number.
- Select the library where you want to pick up the material.
- Click Submit Request.
Massachusetts Virtual Catalog:
The Massachusetts Virtual Catalog allows you to find books and other materials in multiple library catalogs with a single search.
Library catalogs will continue to be added to the Virtual Catalog over the next two to three years until the majority of the online catalogs in Massachusetts are included.
- Choose your region (Western or Central) from the drop-down menu, enter your library card number (found on the back of your card).
- Choose a library for your pickup location from the menu.
- You may then enter the Virtual Catalog and request materials from libraries throughout Massachusetts.
Please note: the Virtual Catalog should be used only when materials are not available in Western or Central Massachusetts through the C/WMARS catalogs.
ILL (InterLibrary Loan) FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
If at any point you do not find the item you want in the catalogs or if you prefer to have a staff member place the request for you or need assistance in finding the material you need, fill out a request form at the reference desk. We will borrow it from another library that has it. You MUST have your library card with you to do this.
How long will it take to get something from another library?
It may take from five to ten days to retrieve materials that are available in nearby libraries, usually sooner. It may take longer if the item is not available locally and we have to request it from outside the state.
How will I know when my item has arrived and where do I pick it up?
Library staff will call you or send you an email notice when the material has arrived. If you have not signed up to receive notices via email, stop by the Circulation desk the next time you are in and give us your email address.
How long can I keep an item from another library?
The loan period is set by the lending library and can vary from a week to a month. Materials borrowed from other libraries in the C/WMARS network may be renewed once and the overdue fine for most of these is 10 cents a day up to a maximum of $3 per item. The overdue fines for videos and DVDs may be $1 a day up to a maximum of $5 per item.
Materials borrowed from outside the C/WMARS network (ILLs) may not be renewed. The overdue fine is $1 a day up to a maximum of $30. Overdue items from outside C/WMARS are considered lost when they are 28 days overdue. In this case, you will be charged whatever replacement costs and fees the owning library assesses; in some cases, these costs can be considerable.
