Frequently Asked Questions
This area has answers to common questions about the library.
- How do I contact the library?
- How do I get to the library?
- How do I get a library card?
- How do I replace my lost card?
- How do I search for items?
- How do I find out what I have checked out and if I owe any fines?
- How do I renew items?
- How do I get an item that Scituate owns but is checked out, or is owned by another OCLN library?
- How do I get an item that is not owned by any OCLN library?
- How do I know whe my hold items are available to be picked up?
- How do I cancel a hold?
- How do I access the Internet at the library?
- How do I reserve or get a museum pass?
- How do I suggest a book or other item for the library to purchase?
- How do I book the Meeting Room?
- How do I donate books?
- How do I volunteer?
1. How do I contact the library?
The library phone number is 781-545-8727.
Please click here for more information on how to contact the library.
Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm. From October through April, the library is open on Sunday, 1:30 – 5:00 pm.
2. How do I get to the library?
The library is located at 85 Branch Street in Scituate, MA, about 25 miles south of Boston. Please click here for directions.
3. How do I get a library card?
Scituate Residents:
A photo id and proof of residency is required to get a library card. Photo id can include driver’s license, Massachusetts ID, passport, military id or student id. If the photo id does not have your Scituate address on it, proof of residency can include any of the following with a Scituate address: utility (gas, phone, electric, cable or oil) bill, lease agreement or house sale documents, tax bill (must include your name), checkbook with Scituate address, piece of mail addressed to you.
Residents of other OCLN towns:
Residents of OCLN towns may apply for a library at any OCLN library. When applying for a card in Scituate, proper identification is needed including a photo id and proof of residency in an OCLN town. Only one OCLN library card per person is allowed.
Residents of Non-OCLN towns:
Massachusetts residents of Non-OCLN towns are eligible for an Old Colony Library Network card with presentation of proper identification including a photo id and proof of residency in Massachusetts.
Initial library cards are free. The cost of replacing a lost library card is $5.00.
Please note:
In order to borrow materials your library card is required at check out. It is the responsibility of the card holder to return materials by the due date or pay charges for overdue materials.
4. How do I replace my lost library card?
Stop by the check out desk and request a replacement card. You may be asked for identification. There is a $5 fee to replace a lost card.
5. How do I search for items?
The online library catalog, maintained by Old Colony Library Network, is web-based and accessed over the Internet. It is available 24 hours a day from home (the catalog goes off-line each day at Midnight for 30 minutes of maintenance).
The online library catalog lists all the materials owned by the 28 member libraries of Old Colony Library Network, including books, CDs, videos, DVDs, books on tape and CD, large print books, foreign language materials, magazines, and more. Searches can be done by title, author, subject and type of material.
6. How do I find out what I have checked out and if I owe any fines?
By selecting Manage My Account on the top (dark blue) search bar in the online library catalog, you can see what you have checked out, have on hold, and any fines due. You can also renew materials. Find out more about Manage My Account.
7. How do I renew items?
There are three ways you can renew items checked out to your account.
You can call the library (during regular library hours) at 781-545-8727 and ask to renew items. You will be asked for the name on the account the items are checked out to. You will be told whether the renewal was successful or not.
You can renew online. Click on the My Account link above. Enter your library card number (all 14 numbers, no spaces) and PIN (which is ocln, unless you have changed it). Click in the checkbox next to each title that you want to renew and then click Renew Selected Items.
You can renew items when you come in the library. You do not need to have the item(s) with you. At the check out desk, request that items on your account be renewed. Having your library card with you makes renewing very easy.
Please note magazines and some videos and DVDs are not renewable.
Other OCLN libraries may have fines and borrowing periods that differ from those of Scituate Town Library. Materials borrowed from other OCLN libraries are subject to the owning libraries’ policies concerning renewals.
8. How do I get an item that Scituate owns but is checked out, or is owned by another OCLN library?
Using the online library catalog, OCLN cardholders can request materials by placing holds on items.
If an item is owned by another library or the catalog says “Material has been checked out”, you may place a hold on it. New materials, including videos, DVDs and new books, are often available for holds only by the owning library’s patrons. If you see the designation “NO HOLDS” or “LOCAL HOLDS” you may not be able to place a hold. Usually a library restricts holds to just its patrons on new materials for up to 6 months.
9. How do I get an item that is not owned by any OCLN library?
If the material you are looking for is not in the catalog (at any OCLN library location), it may be available from a library outside the Old Colony Library Network via the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog or via Interlibrary Loan.
You can search for an item and request it directly in the Virtual Catalog. Click here for more information on Virtual Catalog.
You can submit an Interlibrary Loan request in person at the library. See Interlibrary Loan Borrowing Service for more details about the library's Interlibrary Loan service.
10. How do I know when my hold items are available to be picked up?
When a hold is available for pick up you can be notified by phone or by email, if your email address is on your account. Use the email option only if you frequently check your email.
To add your email address to your account, stop by the check out desk and request to have your email address added to your account.
OCLN member libraries use a delivery service provided by the SouthEastern Massachusetts Library System to send materials between libraries.
11. How do I cancel a hold?
Go to Manage My Account. You will see a list of items you have on hold. Click in the checkbox next to each title you want to cancel, and then click “Cancel Selected Holds.”
12. How do I access the Internet at the library?
Currently the Reference Department has seven computers connected to the Internet. Three of these computers also have Microsoft Office available on them for use.
A library card or current license or picture id is required to use the Internet computers. There is a one hour per day per person limit on computer use.
Here is the library’s Internet Use Policy.
Wireless Internet access is available throughout the library.
13. How do I reserve or get a museum pass?
Museum passes, for Scituate residents only, may be reserved by phone or in person. Click here for more information.
14. How do I suggest a book or other item for the library to purchase?
To suggest an item for the library to consider purchasing, fill out a Book Purchase Request form found on the Reference Desk. This form can be used to suggest books and other materials. You can also speak to the Reference Librarian, Teen Librarian, Children’s Room staff or checkout desk staff with suggestions.
15. How do I book the Meeting Room?
The lower level meeting room with a capacity of approximately 125, is available during regular library hours to non-profit organizations and town boards and committees. Please click here for more information on the library’s meeting room including a Meeting Room Application .
16. How do I donate books?
To donate books, drop them off at the library during regular library hours.
Books not added to the library collection are given to the Friends of the Scituate Town Library to be sold at their book sales. Click here for more information on the Friends of the Scituate Town Library.
17. How do I volunteer?
Volunteers are encouraged to speak to the Director about current projects.
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