About the Jacob
Edwards
Library
Current Hours - Curbside Service
Monday
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9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Tuesday
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9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Wednesday
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9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Thursday
Friday
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9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
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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 early 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 our community.
-Long
Range Plan,
2017
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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.
For a complete history of
the library see our book - The First Century: Jacob Edwards Library,
Southbridge, 1914-2014.
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Board of Trustees
Richard Whitney
- Chairman
Robin Weber - Vice
Chairwoman
Gary Bridgman
Mary Ellen Blake
Beth Cournoyer James Dyer
Maureen Gullekson
The
Board of Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Library meets on the fourth
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.
Trustees Meeting Minutes, Terms of
Office and Bylaws
Library Director's Reports and Terms of
Office
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Staff Directory
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FAQs
– Frequently Asked
Questions What is curbside service?
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?
Are
there fines on overdue library materials?
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 WiFi?
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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FAQ's about Curbside Service:
Curbside Service
What
is curbside pickup service?
Curbside pickup is a service
that the Jacob Edwards Library is offering while the library is closed to the
public. Through this service, you may request library materials in the Jacob
Edwards Library collection, or in the C/W MARS collection ahead of time to borrow and pick up outside the
library. Curbside pickup procedure is subject to change.
What
are the available pickup times?
Curbside service is available Monday through
Friday, from 9 am until 5 pm. Service is not available on Saturdays.
How
do I let the library know the titles that I want to borrow?
How many items may I request at one
time?
Patrons
may request up to ten (10) items per curbside transaction.
Can
I use the curbside pickup service if I don’t have a library card?
You will need to have a library card
before placing hold requests.
As of August 24, 2020, you may self-register for a library card - please click HERE to self-register.
Staff will notify patrons when their card is ready for pickup.
Patrons will have to present official identification and proof of current address to receive their new library card. Paper libray card applications are also available below. Please print and fill out an
application (see links below), and either mail, e-mail or
fax the completed and signed application back to the library. Staff will
contact you with your library card information, and holds may be placed at that
time. You may pick up your library card along with library materials during
your pickup appointment. You must bring official identification,
and current proof of address to receive your new card.
Library Card Application (English)
Library Card Application (Spanish)
Am
I able to place a hold request for items at other libraries?
The statewide Interlibrary Loan service
is available from open libraries throughout the system.
You
may place holds for items at other
libraries within the C/W MARS network through our catalog. Plese
note that interlibrary loan items may not be available until all
libraries are reopened.
When
can I pick up the library items that are on hold for me?
After you place a hold request on the
telephone for an item(s) from the JEL collection, staff will inform you when your item(s) will be available for pickup
- most holds will be available for pickup in 60 minutes. Patrons placing items on hold via the online catalog will be
available to pick-up items in 2 hours.
If patron requests surge at any time, the 1-hour pickup time will be adjusted
accordingly in increments of 60 minutes. Items
must be picked up by the patron the items are checked out to, unless
other arrangements are made at the time of order. If patrons
would like to grant permission to another individual to pick up on
their behalf, please fill out the form below and send back to the
library via e-mail, mail, or fax.
Do
I need to wear face covering when picking up my items?
You are highly encouraged to wear a face
covering when picking up your items. Staff will be wearing masks during curbside pickup.
What
is the curbside pickup procedure?
Curbside
pickup will take place at the rear of the building. Please pull into the drive where the
accessible parking spaces are located. Please call 508-764-5426, or ring the
doorbell to alert staff of your arrival.
● Patron should not exit
vehicle
● Item(s) are offered to patron
in bin through window; if passenger is in vehicle, passenger may take items
from bin
● Patron verifies receipt of
all items before exiting curbside lane; especially important for media items,
such as video games and compact discs
What
if I won’t be arriving in a car?
For
walk-up patrons, please call 508-764-5426 or ring the doorbell to alert staff
of your arrival. Staff will meet you at the table at the rear entrance.
● Staff will ask for patron
name
● Item(s) are offered to patron
in bin at outside door
● Patron verifies receipt of
all items before departing
I have library materials
to return. Can I give them to the staff while picking up new library materials?
Items
may ONLY be returned through the book drop at the rear of the building. Due to
health and safety concerns, staff will not be permitted to physically handle
returns during curbside pickup service.
This is a “one way” service.
Please do not ask staff to make exceptions, as this could
cross-contaminate items currently in process.
Can
I pay a late fee in cash during my curbside pickup appointment?
In order to maintain safety and minimize
contact, we cannot accept cash payments through curbside pickup. You can pay
from home by logging into your library account, but there must be a minimum of
$0.50 fine on your account.
Updated October 28, 2020.
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. As of August 24, 2020, you may self-register for a library card - please click HERE to self-register.
Staff will notify patrons when their card is ready for pickup.
Patrons will have to present official identification and proof of current address to receive their new library card.
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 12) 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, with a valid ID.
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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), or provide a replacement of the same
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-CD, Playaways and music CDs are loaned for three
weeks. New books are loaned for two weeks. DVDs and
videogames
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 a total of 10 DVDs
at
any given time. CDs, audiobooks and magazines are limited
to 10 at any given time. Wii and DS games are limited to 2 per family;
PS4, XBox One and Nintendo Switch games are limited to 1 per family.
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Are there fines on overdue library
materials?
Yes. Fines for
most print materials and CDs are $0.10 per item per
day
with a maximum fine of $3 per item; fines for DVDs & videogames
are
$1 per item per day with a maximum fine of $5 per item. The
maximum fine for late items per card is $10. Lost or damaged
items must be replaced.
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 online. 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 online, you will need
your
library card number and your PIN. Please ask staff to
demonstrate how to access your record online if you need assistance. Now, not only can Southbridge
residents use their local library card to check out materials at any CW
MARS public library across the state, but checked out items will be
automatically renewed.
Patrons
will no longer have to remember to log into their account to renew
physical items they have checked out. If a checked out item can
be renewed it will automatically be renewed on the due date.
An
email notification will be sent on the due date alerting patrons of
renewal status for checked out items. It will indicate if their
items were successfully renewed or unable to be renewed. Patrons can
also log into their account via the CW MARS Libraries app to view the
status of all checked out items.
All
147 CW MARS member libraries are participating in auto renewal.
This means that no matter where in CW MARS your materials were borrowed
from, they will automatically renew on the due date if a renewal is
available.
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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 building. Entrance to the parking lot is via Foster
Street.
Parking
on Main Street and in the Foster Street lot has a two-hour
limit. Should the parking lot be at capacity,
additional spaces are available at the municipal lot on Central Street
and LaRochelle Way. Parking is also available in the evenings only
at the Savers Bank lot across Foster Street.
There
are 2 van accessible spaces nearest the library at its rear/north
entrance.
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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,
15 computers are available for public
use. Four internet accessible computers are located in the
Children’s Department on the Lower
Level for children eleven and younger; four are located in the Young
Adult area for teens aged twelve to seventeen; seven are located in the
Computer
Room on the Main Level for persons eighteen and older.
A
valid library card in good standing is required to use the
computers. In order for a card to be in good standing, the
account must
be
clear of all fines. You may also obtain a one-time guest pass with a
valid ID if you are not a library card holder.
All
computers have print capability; the cost
to print is 20¢ per page for black & white, $1.00 per page for
color copies. Please bring a storage device with you if you
wish
to save your work. Flash drives may be purchased at the
Information Desk for $10.00.
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Does the
Library have WiFi?
Yes,
free WiFi is available throughout the building and around the
perimeter, as well as from the parking lot.
We
now offer Wireless printing! Click
here
from your laptop to upload your print job and follow the on-screen
instructions. Wireless printing is also available from mobile devices.
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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 20¢ per page, black and white only.
The
Library
does not have a public fax service. However fax service is available at
the following nearby locations: Colonial Copy, 22 Central Street; Staples, 120
Charlton Road, Sturbridge.
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Does the Library
have microfilm-reading
services?
Yes, microfilm
readers
are located
in the Computer Room on the Main Level. Our most recent acquisition, a
ScanPro 2000, is a universal scanner that features high-resolution
optics and scanning at all magnifications. An oversized, rotating
screen and cutting-edge software let you automatically locate selected
words on the film, and link to secondary sources when doing research.
Any page or article can be printed or saved as a PDF file. The software
also includes editing features, allowing you to "clean up" text or
images.
Vital statistics,
historical documents and back issues of local newspapers including the Southbridge
Evening News may be searched and printed (20¢ per
page). 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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