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Covid-19 Library Services
View links to COVID-19 resources and community services here
Library Services
(updated 1/29/2021)
While our building is closed to the public, we are still here to help you! Please reach out to us by phone (978-829-1780), email (fplref@cwmars.org), or our Ask a Librarian form with any questions you may have.
- Curbside Pickup Service (including information on returns and due dates)
- Computer Use by Appointment (temporarily suspended as of 12/24/20)
- Printing and Faxing via Curbside
- Youth Library Visits by Appointment (temporarily suspended as of 12/24/20)
- Library Cards
- Holds & Interlibrary Loans
- Electronic Resources
- Virtual Events
- Tax Assistance & Forms
Curbside Pickup Service
Hours are Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:00am-7:00pm; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm
Requesting Items for Pickup
This can be done in one of three ways:
- Call us at 978-829-1780
- Email fplref@cwmars.org
- Order through your online account
If you don’t have specific items in mind, please call or email us - a librarian will be happy to select some titles for you! You can also ask us for book recommendations with our new online form!
You will be notified by phone or email when your request is ready. When you arrive, please enter the main door and wait at the table between the double-doors (one person at a time). For faster service, or if you need items brought out to your car, call 978-829-1780, option 3, when you arrive and give us your name and last 4 digits of your library card number. Please maintain 6 feet social distancing and wear your mask.
Returns
All returns must be put in the book drops. No items can be given to staff. All returns will be quarantined for at least 48 hours before they are checked in, so please do not be concerned if you receive a renewal or overdue notice after returning an item. If you still believe you have received one in error, please reach out to us. Any overdue fees that may have accrued during the quarantine period will be automatically waived upon check in.
If you have an item that is too large for the book drop (WiFi hot spots, puzzles, games, art prints, etc)., please give us a call to arrange a drop-off time.
Due Dates
New items being checked out will have standard 3-week (book) or 1-week (DVD) loan periods. All items will have one automatic renewal. Please note that the Fitchburg Public Library does not charge overdue fees. See here for all of our standard lending policies.
Printing, Faxing & Photocopies
Yes, you can still print and fax with us! Pick up your items curbside.
Printing: If you have something that you need printed, you can email it to us at fplref@cwmars.org, or upload it to our remote printing service. We will call or email you when your print job is ready to pick up curbside. If you need it printed in a hurry, please give us a a call to let us know you sent something. Please bring exact change (10 cents per page B&W, $1.00 per page color).
Faxing: Stop by the front door during our regular curbside hours. A staff member will take your paperwork and we will send the fax while you wait! Please bring exact change ($1.00 for the first page, 50 cents for each additional page).
Photocopies: Stop by the front door during our regular curbside hours. A staff member will take your paperwork and we will make yours copies while you wait! Please bring exact change (15 cents per page).
Computer Use by Appointment
As of 12/24/20, for the safety of our patrons and staff we have temporarily suspended Computer Use Appointments. An announcement will be made when these resume.
Youth Library Visits by Appointment
As of 12/24/20, for the safety of our patrons and staff we have temporarily suspended Youth Library Visits. An announcement will be made when these resume.
Library Cards
To sign up for a new library card, please call us (978-829-1780). Or, you may fill out this online form and a staff member will be in touch within 1-2 business days.
If your library card has expired, or if you have any problems accessing online resources with your card, please give us a call so we can get your account updated.
Holds & Interlibrary Loans
Statewide delivery service has resumed as of June 22, 2020, but please note the service is not running as quickly as it did pre-COVID. Library staff will contact you when your items are available for curbside pickup.
ComCat has reopened for requests as of September 21. As with statewide delivery, please allow extra time for your items to arrive.
Electronic Resources
See here for our listing of free educational and homeschooling resources.
Visit cwmars.overdrive.com or download the Libby app to access ebooks and audiobooks available for download.
To access ALL of the FPL resources available to you online, visit our Ebooks & Digital Resources page.
- These resources include:
- Novelist (book recommendations and read-alikes).
- A-Z World Food (free recipe database).
- Freegal (stream and download music).
- Gale Databases.
- NewsBank (access to Sentinel archives and vetted sources for world and national news).
- Ancestry.com (available free from home through March 31, 2021, thanks to ProQuest) & HeritageQuest.
- and many more!
Virtual Events
While our building and meeting rooms are closed, we are holding library events virtually! Please view our online calendar for upcoming events.
Tax Assistance & Forms
Due to volunteer shortages, the AARP Tax-Aide Program will not be hosted at FPL this year. We apologize for the inconvenience this causes our patrons. You may try other locations from the directory of other AARP Tax-Aide sites, or search for a VITA Tax Prep site nearby. Please note that volunteer shortages and COVID restrictions mean that appointments at all sites are very limited this year.
Consider filing your federal taxes online for free with IRS Free File, supported by software partners like TurboTax and TaxSlayer. Browse the offers and find one that you qualify for on the IRS Free File website.
Explore free options for filing your state taxes online through the MA Department of Revenue's eFile program.
Tax forms & instructions have begun arriving, and will be available for pickup Curbside (if you need a specific form, please call ahead). Forms can also be printed from the IRS website, or request forms to be mailed to you by calling 800-829-3676.