Newburyport Public Library

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Information Services

Overview

The Information Services department provides current, high–demand and high–interest materials in a variety of formats for the Newburyport community. The Information desk is located on the 2nd floor of the Library.

Information Services librarians are available to help library users find information for their research, school, or personal interests. The library offers information in the forms of our in–library use print reference collection, our circulating fiction and non–fiction materials, as well as our extensive collection of current online and electronic resources.

Questions will be answered promptly by Information Services staff during regular library hours. Call us at 978– 465–4428, ext. 226, fax the library at 978–463–0394, or fill out an Information Request Form. For online reference assistance when the Library is closed, try using Ask A Librarian at the state–provided 24/7 service MassAnswers.

Services

Technology

Computers are available for public use on the 2nd floor in Information Services and on the 3rd floor Technology Center. Scanners and assistive technologies are available in the Technology Center. Printing is available (black & white only) from all library public computers. Printing cost is $0.10 per page. Wireless Internet access is available throughout most of the Library.

Having trouble getting started on the computer?

The Library offers one–on–one computer lessons on the following: Introduction to Email, Basic Internet and Introduction to the Library Catalog. Call Information Services to schedule a lesson.

All computer users are expected to honor the Library's  Computer Use and Internet Policy.

Tax Forms

The IRS provides libraries with common Federal tax forms and publications – other forms can be photocopied from a book provided by the IRS or found online at www.irs.gov The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides general tax forms to libraries and these are available while supplies last. Other Massachusetts forms can be obtained online.Telephone help is available from the Andover IRS office at 978 474–5200, and IRS Telephone Assistance 1 800 829–1040. Library staff are not able to provide tax help.

Finding Information Online

The Library has a variety of Online Resources available ranging from test prep to consumer health to business research. These resources include popular magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, and information from reference materials and original sources. See our Online Resources page to get started. Not sure what website you need? Don't know where to start? Check out our listing of websites by subject to help you find what you're looking for.

Interlibrary Loan Requests

The Newburyport Public Library is part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) and has access to over 2.5 million items throughout the 35 member libraries. If the item you want isn't at any of the MVLC member libraries, we can extend our search to include all Massachusetts libraries using Virtual Catalog. If you want a hard–to–find title (and it's not found in Virtual Catalog), Information Services staff can search libraries throughout the United States.

MVLC

This is a great resource for getting popular materials that are checked out of or are not owned by Newburyport Public Library. You can request material online via the MVLC catalog or by contacting Information Services staff. Items requested through MVLC usually arrive within 7–10 days if there is no waiting list for the item. You will be notified by phone or email when your items arrive.

Virtual Catalog

For items that are not owned by the member libraries of MVLC, requests for materials from other Massachusetts libraries can be made through Virtual Catalog. The Virtual Catalog allows you to search multiple online library catalogs throughout Massachusetts. Requests for materials can be placed online via the Virtual Catalog using your library card number, or by contacting Information Services staff. Items requested through Virtual Catalog can take up to three weeks or longer to arrive. You will be notified by email or phone when your items arrive.

Out of State

You can request hard–to–find print material that is not owned in the MVLC or other Massachusetts library by contacting the Information Services staff at 978–465–4428 x226.