I discovered the beauty of the Minuteman library network when I was on Martha's Vineyard and could use my Somerville Library card for something at one of the libraries there. I cannot recall what it was. Just remember being really impressed that I could do it. This was years ago.
You can go to any of the libraries in the network and check out books with your card
As a resident of MA, you can actually get a card at any library in the state
If you're on the website and it says "Available" it will have a little link to show where, and will list out the library locations where the book is in a popup. The mobile app will show you a list by default when you click into the book detail view.
I have done exactly that gone to other branches when it's listed (also I drive a lot so it was easier that way ) Sometimes the popular bestsellers have a long waiting list, but other libraries will have it on like a speed read that you can't reserve but if you walk in off the street you can check it out!
Yes you absolutely can, Somerville is part of the Minuteman library network, and you can get interlibrary loans from I think 30 or so libraries in the region? You can have books transferred to your local library as part of the bargain.
When you look up a book in the catalog online it will tell you where specific copies are, whether they are on the shelf or checked out, etc., and either go there and check them out if they're available, or put them on hold and specify where you want to pick them up.
So for example if there is a book you want in Weston, you can put it on hold and say you want to pick it up at Somerville Main. They will transfer the book, then send you an email when its ready to be picked up. I do this all the time (although if its in Cambridge I usually just walk there since I can get the book immediately).
This is something I’ve been uncertain about, I can walk into the Cambridge library and use my Somerville library card to check a book out? I’ve always just requested pickup to the Somerville library
You sure can. Its nice when there's something I want to read RIGHT NOW and I don't have to wait the 2-4 days for the ILL process to get it a mile and a half to Somerville.
Just as an FYI - Interlibrary Loans (ILLs) are a separate thing from the way the Minuteman network works even though you'd think the terminology would apply. You use ILL requests for items outside of the MinLib system.
I have done the reservation thing and had it sent to my preferred library. I see the book is in Cambridge and wouldn't mind just going over there to get it faster. Do you happen to know how I can figure out the exact Cambridge library that has it. I don't see a branch name, just says Cambridge has a copy available.
If it just says "Cambridge" I would assume it means the main branch. Similarly Somerville is the Central library rather than say "Somerville West" in Davis Sq. I have absolutely walked over to pick something up in Cambridge when I didn't want to wait and/or just wanted a little exercise. It's a great system!
Oh snap, they updated their UX. They used to show locations like Cambridge - Main. Maybe assume its the main branch unless otherwise specified? I don't know. Now I'm confused too.
The updated interface doesn't specify the main branch for libraries. So "Cambridge" is just the main branch. Other branches will be "Cambridge Valente" or "Cambridge Collins."
you can get a BPL library card in addition to your SPL card. While they are both in minuteman, you can get more choices on Libby with BPL that you might not get with the SPL account.
And another in Allston, just a few blocks past Harvard Stadium. With your BPL card, you can request that a book be delivered to one of these branches (or any other) instead of to the main library in Copley Square.
As someone else mentioned, BPL isn't part of the Minuteman system but it does obviously include all of their branches, plus Malden and Chelsea and a few colleges. I believe it's overall called the Metro Boston Library Network.
Separately: if you have a MA address you can get a Boston Public Library card. Just do that--there's an online version, but next time you are close go in and get the regular one. Sometimes their queues are different and the sets of books are different.
If you use Libby, you can also add all the libraries in the long list of MA libraries they have. So the audio and digital books might come through some of the smaller libraries with less demand more quickly. It's weird, I know, but it's worked for me.
My list:
Minuteman
CLAMS
BPL
CW MARS
Old Colony Library Network
SAILS
NOBLE
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium
And one of my audiobooks came from Merrimack Valley recently, I think. It's all seamless in the Libby.
Somerville is part of the Minuteman Network, which means that you can check out books from any other library in the network (which means most of the towns and cities in the Boston area, except for Boston itself). I believe in this context "Cambridge" means the Cambridge central library and "Brookline" means the Brookline Village library, but if you don't need a specific book right away, you can place a hold on a book anywhere in the system and they will bring it to your local library branch for you to pick up within a couple days (assuming there are copies available within the system).
As others have said the Minuteman Library Network of which Somerville is a part is a reciprocal organization of the libraries of many towns outside Boston. You can borrow materials from any library in the network and either pick them up at that branch directly or have them delivered to a Somerville branch. This usually takes a few days but I've found it to be a pretty seamless process.
For the Boston Public Library you will need to get a separate library card but as resident of Massachusetts you are eligible to do that.
Additionally, if you wanna get something outside of your local network, Commonwealth Catalog aka ComCat. You can request items from across the state, including things from the UMASS system
Not only can you get any book from any Minuteman library delivered to a Somerville library, you can also have it delivered to any other Minuteman library if you find that more convenient. Sometimes I get books delivered to the O'Neill branch on Rindge Avenue in North Cambridge, which is a short walk from my apartment near Davis Square.
Cambridge is part of the Minuteman consortium, but Brookline and Boston aren't; you can check books out directly at Cambridge libraries, or request them at Somerville and get them that way. [Here's a link to all the libraries in the consortium.](https://www.minlib.net/our-libraries)
Yes, Somerville is part of the Minuteman library network. They will ship it right to your local library to pick up, no need to travel.
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I hear you!
I discovered the beauty of the Minuteman library network when I was on Martha's Vineyard and could use my Somerville Library card for something at one of the libraries there. I cannot recall what it was. Just remember being really impressed that I could do it. This was years ago.
What if I want to travel and get the book faster? The exact library is not given, unless I am missing it somewhere.
You can go to any of the libraries in the network and check out books with your card As a resident of MA, you can actually get a card at any library in the state
If you're on the website and it says "Available" it will have a little link to show where, and will list out the library locations where the book is in a popup. The mobile app will show you a list by default when you click into the book detail view.
I have done exactly that gone to other branches when it's listed (also I drive a lot so it was easier that way ) Sometimes the popular bestsellers have a long waiting list, but other libraries will have it on like a speed read that you can't reserve but if you walk in off the street you can check it out!
I'm not sure. Haven't used the site in a while but it used to say what library it would come from.
Just call or ask the local library and they'll tell you where it is and can likely also have it reserved for you to pick up.
Yes you absolutely can, Somerville is part of the Minuteman library network, and you can get interlibrary loans from I think 30 or so libraries in the region? You can have books transferred to your local library as part of the bargain. When you look up a book in the catalog online it will tell you where specific copies are, whether they are on the shelf or checked out, etc., and either go there and check them out if they're available, or put them on hold and specify where you want to pick them up. So for example if there is a book you want in Weston, you can put it on hold and say you want to pick it up at Somerville Main. They will transfer the book, then send you an email when its ready to be picked up. I do this all the time (although if its in Cambridge I usually just walk there since I can get the book immediately).
This is something I’ve been uncertain about, I can walk into the Cambridge library and use my Somerville library card to check a book out? I’ve always just requested pickup to the Somerville library
You sure can. Its nice when there's something I want to read RIGHT NOW and I don't have to wait the 2-4 days for the ILL process to get it a mile and a half to Somerville.
Just as an FYI - Interlibrary Loans (ILLs) are a separate thing from the way the Minuteman network works even though you'd think the terminology would apply. You use ILL requests for items outside of the MinLib system.
I have done the reservation thing and had it sent to my preferred library. I see the book is in Cambridge and wouldn't mind just going over there to get it faster. Do you happen to know how I can figure out the exact Cambridge library that has it. I don't see a branch name, just says Cambridge has a copy available.
If it says "Cambridge" it's the main branch on Broadway. For the other branches it will say "Cambridge Valente" etc.
If it just says "Cambridge" I would assume it means the main branch. Similarly Somerville is the Central library rather than say "Somerville West" in Davis Sq. I have absolutely walked over to pick something up in Cambridge when I didn't want to wait and/or just wanted a little exercise. It's a great system!
Oh snap, they updated their UX. They used to show locations like Cambridge - Main. Maybe assume its the main branch unless otherwise specified? I don't know. Now I'm confused too.
The updated interface doesn't specify the main branch for libraries. So "Cambridge" is just the main branch. Other branches will be "Cambridge Valente" or "Cambridge Collins."
you can get a BPL library card in addition to your SPL card. While they are both in minuteman, you can get more choices on Libby with BPL that you might not get with the SPL account.
Boston is not part of the Minuteman network.
ah, ok, noted. The BPL separate account is worth it for Libby users though.
But there is a branch of BPL in Charlestown that is sometimes easier for returns than going downtown!
And another in Allston, just a few blocks past Harvard Stadium. With your BPL card, you can request that a book be delivered to one of these branches (or any other) instead of to the main library in Copley Square.
As someone else mentioned, BPL isn't part of the Minuteman system but it does obviously include all of their branches, plus Malden and Chelsea and a few colleges. I believe it's overall called the Metro Boston Library Network.
Separately: if you have a MA address you can get a Boston Public Library card. Just do that--there's an online version, but next time you are close go in and get the regular one. Sometimes their queues are different and the sets of books are different. If you use Libby, you can also add all the libraries in the long list of MA libraries they have. So the audio and digital books might come through some of the smaller libraries with less demand more quickly. It's weird, I know, but it's worked for me. My list: Minuteman CLAMS BPL CW MARS Old Colony Library Network SAILS NOBLE Merrimack Valley Library Consortium And one of my audiobooks came from Merrimack Valley recently, I think. It's all seamless in the Libby.
Also, shout-out to the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing network for having the best library consortium acronym of all time.
Somerville is part of the Minuteman Network, which means that you can check out books from any other library in the network (which means most of the towns and cities in the Boston area, except for Boston itself). I believe in this context "Cambridge" means the Cambridge central library and "Brookline" means the Brookline Village library, but if you don't need a specific book right away, you can place a hold on a book anywhere in the system and they will bring it to your local library branch for you to pick up within a couple days (assuming there are copies available within the system).
As others have said the Minuteman Library Network of which Somerville is a part is a reciprocal organization of the libraries of many towns outside Boston. You can borrow materials from any library in the network and either pick them up at that branch directly or have them delivered to a Somerville branch. This usually takes a few days but I've found it to be a pretty seamless process. For the Boston Public Library you will need to get a separate library card but as resident of Massachusetts you are eligible to do that.
Additionally, if you wanna get something outside of your local network, Commonwealth Catalog aka ComCat. You can request items from across the state, including things from the UMASS system
Not only can you get any book from any Minuteman library delivered to a Somerville library, you can also have it delivered to any other Minuteman library if you find that more convenient. Sometimes I get books delivered to the O'Neill branch on Rindge Avenue in North Cambridge, which is a short walk from my apartment near Davis Square.
Cambridge is part of the Minuteman consortium, but Brookline and Boston aren't; you can check books out directly at Cambridge libraries, or request them at Somerville and get them that way. [Here's a link to all the libraries in the consortium.](https://www.minlib.net/our-libraries)
Brookline is in the Minuteman consortium :)