About the Jacob
Edwards Library
Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
|
9:00 – 8:00
9:00 – 5:00
9:00 – 5:00
9:00 – 8:00
9:00 – 5:00
9:00 – 1:00 (September – May) |
|
The Library is closed New Year’s Day,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Patriots
Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus
Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Also,
the Library closes the Friday following Thanksgiving and
closes at Noon on Christmas Eve. |
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Our Mission
The Jacob Edwards Library
enjoys a rich legacy of excellent service and is committed to
the promotion of reading, education, literacy, culture, and
lifelong learning for persons of all ages in the Southbridge
community.
-Long-Range Plan, 2004
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Our History
 The
first public library was established in the Town of
Southbridge by public vote in 1870. In 1872, Holmes Ammidown,
Esq. established and leased space on Main Street for the use
of the town library. Through the generous bequest of Jacob
Edwards, a new facility was erected on the current location of
the Library in 1914. Having long outgrown its original
building, a major addition was added to the library in 1966;
this wing included the current Reading Room, Director’s
Office, and the Holmes Ammidown History Room. A major
expansion and renovation was completed in 2000, thus
increasing the library facility to its current size of 33,000
sq. ft.
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Board of Trustees
John Lachappelle – Chairman
Joan Menard – Vice-Chairman
Paula Dacoles – Treasurer
Richard Whitney
Gary Bridgman
Fr. Peter Joyce
Terri Colognesi
The Board of
Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Library meets on the third
Tuesday of each month, except July and August. All meetings
are open to the general public. Correspondence to the Board
of Trustees may be sent to the Library address.
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Staff
Directory
James D.
Patterson – Director
jpatters@cwmars.org
Margaret
Morrissey – Adult Services Librarian
mmorriss@cwmars.org
Karla Gartsu –
Children Services Librarian
kgartsu@cwmars.org
Corinna Tiberri
– Circulation Services Librarian
ctiberri@cwmars.org
Lynn
Wolstencroft –
Technical Services Librarian
lwolsten@cwmars.org
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FAQs –
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a
library card? How do I get a card for my child?
What do
I do if my address, telephone, or e-mail address changes?
What do I do if my
library card is lost or stolen?
What do I do if I
have lost or damaged library materials?
What are the loan
periods for library materials?
How many items may
I borrow on my card?
Can I renew
items?
How do I schedule a
meeting or study room?
Does the Library have
parking?
Is the Library
handicapped accessible?
Does the
Library have changing facilities for infants?
Does the Library have
computers for public use?
Does the Library
have copy and FAX services?
Does the
Library have microfilm-reading services?
Does the Library
provide genealogy services?
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How
do I get a library card?
How do I get a card for my
child?
Library cards
are FREE! Complete a Library Card Application at any
Check-out Desk. Present a completed application along with a
photo ID that contains your name and current address. Photo
ID without your current address must be accompanied by printed
personal mail, such as a lease, bill or official document. If
you have no printed personal mail, please ask the staff to
mail you a postcard, which you can then present to the library
staff as proof of your current address.
Parents and legal guardians may obtain a
card for a child or legal dependent at the Check-out Desk in
the Children’s Room on the Lower Level of the Library. A
parent or legal guardian must sign for a minor (under the age
of 13) and present a photo ID that has the parent’s or
guardian’s name and current address. Photo ID without your
current address must be accompanied by printed personal mail,
such as a lease, bill or official document. If you have no
printed personal mail, please ask the staff to mail you a
postcard, which you can then present to the library as proof
of your current address.
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What
do I do if my address,
telephone number or e-mail address changes?
If your address,
telephone number or e-mail address changes, please notify the
Library in person. E-mail address may be updated through the
My Account
page.
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What
do I do if my library card is lost or
stolen?
Please call
508-764-5426 to report a lost or stolen card. You are
responsible for all items checked out on your library card, so
please make your report as soon as possible. There is a $1
charge for replacing your card.
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What
do I do if I have lost or damaged
library materials?
If you have lost
or damaged library materials, you must pay for the replacement
cost of the item(s). Please speak with a staff member in
person about lost or damaged items.
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What
are the loan periods for library
materials?
Most books,
books-on-tape, books-on-CD and music CDs are loaned for three
weeks. New books are loaned for two weeks. Videos and DVDs
are loaned for one week. Magazines are loaned for one week.
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How many
items may I borrow on my card?
Lending policies
are established to encourage the maximum responsible use of
library materials by borrowers. New cardholders are limited
to borrowing two items the first time a new card is used.
Also, the library does reserve the right to limit a patron to
three books on the same subject, so that other students and
researchers may have access to materials in order to provide
materials on a given subject for other patrons.
Each cardholder
is limited to borrowing four videos (VHS) and two DVDs at any
given time. CDs, audiobooks and magazines are restricted to
ten at any given time.
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Can
I renew borrowed items?
Yes, most
library materials can be renewed once, as long as there is no
one else waiting for the item. Items may be renewed in person
at any Check-out Desk, by phone, or on-line. Please phone the
library during open hours to renew by phone; voicemail
renewals are not available. On-line renewals are available by
selecting My
Account on the library’s website. To renew items
on-line, you will need your library card number and your PIN.
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Does
the Library have parking?
Yes, free
parking is available. Parking is available along Main Street
in front of the facility and in the municipal parking lot
located behind the facility. Entrance to the parking is is
via Foster Street. Both the Main Street parking and Foster
Street lot have two-hour limits.
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Is
the Library handicapped accessible?
Yes, the
facility is handicapped accessible from the rear entrance.
The accessible entrance is located at the rear of the
building.
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Does the Library have
changing facilities for
infants?
Yes, both
restrooms on the Lower Level nearest the Meeting Rooms have
changing table for infants. Please see the Check-Out Desk in
the Children’s Department for access.
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Does
the Library have computers for public
use?
 Yes,
eight computers are available for public use. Two are located
in the Children’s Department on the Lower Level for children
twelve and younger; six are located in the Computer Room on
the Main Level for persons thirteen and older. One computer
is located on the Second Level for word processing purposes.
A valid library card is required to use the computers. In
order for a card to be valid, the account must be clear of all
fines. All computers have print capability; the cost to print
is .10¢ per page. Computer reservations may be made in
person through the Reservation Station in the Computer Room.
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Does the Library have
copy and FAX services?
The Library has
a public photocopier located on the Main Level. The cost to
copy is .10¢ per page. The Library does not have a public FAX
service.
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Does the Library have
microfilm-reading services?
Yes, two microfilm readers are located in
the Computer Room on the Main Level. Vital statistics,
historical documents and back issues of local newspapers
including the Southbridge Evening News may be searched
and printed. Please see a staff member at the Information
Desk on the Main Level to access our microfilm readers. Photo
ID is required.
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