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Request & Renew Items

Requesting Items

The table below outlines the various ways you can request items from other libraries. It also explains how to request that the Billerica Public Library purchase an item for the collection.

ActionStepsTips
Request an item through the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC).
  1. Go to the online catalog.
  2. Log in with your library card number and password/PIN.
  3. Search for the item, click “Place Hold,” and then follow the on-screen prompts.
  • Contact the library if you need help resetting your password/PIN.
  • You will be notified via phone, text, or email when the item arrives and the item will be held for 7 days.
Request an item through the Commonwealth Catalog.
  1. Go to the Commonwealth Catalog.
  2. Log in with your library card number and password/PIN.
  3. Search for the item, click “Request this Item,” and then follow the on-screen prompts.
  • Contact the library if you need help resetting your password/PIN.
  • Contact the Circulation Department if you need assistance with using the Commonwealth Catalog by calling 978-671-0949 ext. 3.
  • You will be notified via phone, text, or email when the item arrives and the item will be held for 7 days.
Request an item with staff help if it is not in MVLC or the Commonwealth Catalog.
  1. Fill out the Request an Item form and a staff member will process your request and follow up with you.
  • Please provide as much information as you can so staff can be sure they are locating the right item for you.
  • Some requests may be subject to the library’s Interlibrary Loan Policy.
Request an article that is not available in the library’s print or electronic holdings.
  1. Fill out the Request an Article form and a staff member will process your request and follow up with you.
  • Please provide as much information as you can so staff can be sure they are locating the right article for you.
  • Some requests may be subject to the library’s Interlibrary Loan Policy.
Request the library purchase an item for the collection.
  1. Fill out the Request an Item for Purchase form and a staff member will follow up with you.
  • Items requested for purchase will be considered by taking both the library’s budget and the library’s Material Selection Policy into account.

Renewing Items

To see information about the library’s loan periods, click here.

Automatic Renewals: If an item does not have a hold on it, it will renew automatically three days prior to the item’s due date in most cases. Items can be automatically renewed up to two times or when the allotted amount of renewals for that item have occurred.

If you wish to manually renew an item, you can do so using one of the methods in the table below.

ActionStepsTips
Renew via the library catalog.
  1. Go to the online catalog.
  2. Click “My Account.”
  3. Log in with your library card number and password/PIN.
  4. You can choose which items to renew under the “Checkouts” tab.
  • Items with holds or that have been renewed more than twice will be blocked from renewal.
Renew via the automated Library Renewal Line.
  1. Click here to learn more about this option.
  • Items with holds or that have been renewed more than twice will be blocked from renewal.
Renew with help by staff by phone or chat.
  1. Call the Circulation Department at 978-671-0948 ext. 3 or use the chat feature on the library’s website during business hours.
 
Renew in-person.
  1. Stop by any library service desk for assistance.
 

Password/PIN

When accessing your library account through the online catalog or placing holds, you will be asked to supply a library card number and a Password/PIN.

Your password/PIN is preset to the last four digits of your card number (for patrons who opened their account before 2017, the preset password was the last four digits of the primary phone number on your account).

To change your Password/PIN:

  1. Go to the online catalog.
  2. Click “My Account.”
  3. Log in with your library card number and password/PIN.
  4. Click the option to “Change PIN” and follow the prompts.

If you forget your password and you have an email address on your account, simply select the “forgot your password?” link on the login screen, enter your library card number and a password reset will be sent to your email.

If your password/PIN doesn’t work or if you have trouble logging into your account, call the circulation desk at 978-671-0948 ext. 3 for assistance.

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