The Agawam Public Library belongs to the Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, Inc (CW MARS). This is a network of public, academic, special, school, and regional libraries in central and western Massachusetts.
Patrons may use one card to borrow materials at most of our surrounding public libraries. You may also return materials, pay overdue fines, and pay for lost items at any member library. Click here for a list of all CW/MARS libraries.
As part of this network, you are also able to perform the following functions at any member library, or from your home:
- access the catalogs of all 140+ member libraries
- check your library account
- reserve books and other library materials
Request
Requesting Materials with Library Staff
To request library materials that are currently checked out or are only available at another CW MARS library, please visit the Agawam Public Library Information, Reference, or Children’s Desks, or call us at 413-789-1550 x4. Once your item is available to pick up at the library, you will receive an email, phone call, or text notification and will have one week to pick up the item before it is returned to the owning library or set aside for the next patron in line.
Requesting Materials Online
Visit the CW MARS catalog to request library materials from the comfort of your own home! You will need to have your library account information – including your library card number/username and PIN/password – on hand in order to request items. If you are not certain of your PIN/password, please visit the library or call 413-789-1550.
Can’t find what you’re looking for in CW MARS? Try searching the whole state of Massachusetts by using the Commonwealth Catalog. You will need to have your library account information – including your library card number/username and PIN/password – on hand in order to request items. Click here to view the Patron FAQ for requesting items in the Commonwealth Catalog, or call the Information Desk at 413-789-1550 x4 for assistance. Commonwealth Catalog items that are picked up from Agawam Public Library may not be returned to any other CW MARS library except for Agawam.
Requesting Materials from Outside of Massachusetts
To borrow library materials from outside of Massachusetts, please visit the Information Desk to fill out an ILL request form or call 413-789-1550 x4. Out of State Interlibrary Loans may only be placed for Agawam or Feeding Hills residents with a valid library card; this service is not available to non-residents or reciprocal card holders.
Please be aware when placing an Out of State Interlibrary Loan request that it may take 2 – 4 weeks or more to receive the desired material from another library. Audiovisual materials (such as DVDs and CDs), genealogy and reference books, and equipment may not be available to borrow.
Some lending libraries, particularly academic libraries, charge borrowing and/or photocopying fees when supplying items through ILL. We will make every effort to borrow requested items from libraries that do not charge for this service. When this is not possible, and with your prior agreement, any charges incurred will need to be paid by you before checking out or using the material at the library.
Please contact the Information Desk at 413-789-1550 x4 or email [email protected] with any questions.
Borrow
Lending Periods
All items owned by Agawam Public Library (with the exception of Museum Passes and Juvenile Kits & Discovery Tote Bags) will automatically renew once. Please call 413-789-1550 with any questions.
| Museum Passes | 1 day (no renewal) |
| DVDs | 1 week |
| Board Games | 1 week |
| Launchpad Tablets | 1 week |
| Magazines | 2 weeks |
| New Books | 2 weeks |
| WiFi Hotspots | 2 weeks |
| Most Books | 3 weeks |
| Audiobooks | 3 weeks |
| Music CDs | 3 weeks |
| Puppets | 3 weeks |
| Juvenile Puzzles | 3 weeks |
| Juvenile Discovery Tote Bags | 4 weeks (no renewal) |
| Juvenile Kits | 4 weeks (no renewal) |
| Framed Art Prints | 6 weeks |
Borrow Limits
All card-holding patrons may have up to 50 items checked out to their library card at any given time. Agawam and all other CW MARS patrons are subject to the following borrow limits of Agawam materials:
| Total Items per Card | 50 |
| Print Books (all formats) | 50 |
| DVDs | 50 |
| CD Audiobooks | 50 |
| Music CDs | 50 |
| Magazines | 10 |
| Playaway Audiobooks | 5 |
| Board Games | 5 |
| Framed Art Prints | 2 |
| Juvenile Discovery Tote Bags | 2 |
| Juvenile Kits | 2 |
| Launchpad Tablets | 2 |
| WiFi Hotspots | 1 |
Overdue Fees
Agawam Public Library does not currently charge overdue fees except for the following library materials (please note that this is subject to change):
| Museum Passes | $5 per day; up to $25 |
| WiFi Hotspots | $5 late fee |
Some CW MARS libraries do charge overdue fees for their items. If your total fees exceed $10 (or you have any lost or billed items on your card) you may not borrow additional materials or use the public access computers until the fees are resolved.
Lost and Damaged Items
You will be charged the replacement price for lost or seriously damaged items. Items are considered lost when they are 30 days overdue. The library sends out bills by email or first class mail for the replacement cost of items 30 days overdue. You may not borrow additional items or use the public access computers if there is a lost item on your record. This includes items from any library in the CW MARS Network.
Once lost items have been returned, the lost item and accompanying bill will be automatically removed from your account.
To pay for lost or damaged items using cash or a check, please visit the Agawam Public Library Circulation Desk.
To pay for lost or damaged items using a card, please click here and log in using your library acount information (you will need to have your library card number/username and PIN/password handy). Click on “Charges” and follow the instructions to complete your payment.
If you have any questions about lost or damaged items that belong to Agawam Public Library, please contact Circulation Supervisor Chad Pelley at [email protected] or 413-789-1550 x8872.
Lost Library Cards
Please tell us immediately if your card is lost, as you are responsible for all materials taken out on your card until the date when you report the card lost. You must have identification to receive a replacement card, and the fee is $1 for all patrons with the exception of Senior Citizens, who are not charged the lost card replacement fee.
If you know where your library card is but do not have it with you at the library, you will be allowed to use a picture ID one time to check out materials. If you still do not have your card with you on your next visit, you will be required to purchase a new one before you may check out library materials.
Expired Library Cards
CW MARS library cards expire every 2 years and must be updated by library staff or online. If your card has not been used for many years, it may have been purged from our system. To add your card back into our system, please visit any CW MARS library with a valid photo ID and proof of your Massachusetts residency.
Return
How to Return an Item
You may return most items borrowed from the Agawam Library or any C/W MARS Library to the Agawam Public Library. Conversely, you may return most Agawam Public Library materials to any CW MARS Network Library. Items may be returned at the Agawam Public Library circulation desk in the library, or in our book drops by the main entrance.
Agawam items that may not be returned to any other CW MARS library include: children’s kits, puppets, juvenile puzzles, WiFi hotspots, framed art prints, and Commonwealth Catalog loans that were picked up in Agawam.
How to Renew an Item
Renewing gives you the opportunity to keep an item for one additional loan period. Most library materials are renewable as long as no one is waiting for the item; however, museum passes are not renewable. Materials borrowed outside the CW MARS Network may or may not be renewable.
You may renew items at the library, by phone, or online through your CW MARS library account. Eligible items will automatically renew. Patrons will receive an email saying that a renewal was attempted on the due date. If your item does not have any additional renewals and you would like to check it out again, please bring it to the Agawam Public Library Circulation Desk.
AgawamPublicLibrary
AgawamPublicLibrary
