Non-Resident Use Policy

As a participant in the State Aid to Public Libraries Program administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Worcester Public Library must comply with requirements regarding use of its collection that are specified in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 78, Section 19A B and further defined in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (605 CMR 4.00).

The Worcester Public Library extends reciprocal borrowing privileges to residents of the Commonwealth who reside in communities that offer state certified library services. It is the policy of the Worcester Public Library to discontinue borrowing privileges to residents of communities without certified public libraries and to discontinue interlibrary loans to such libraries, except when a library is not certified because of conditions beyond the community's control such as fire or natural disaster or other extenuating circumstances as determined by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director will notify the Board annually of libraries that are not certified.

The Worcester Public Library continues to extend access to its materials for use in the library by all Massachusetts residents as required by 605 CMR 4.01(l), which states that all residents of the Commonwealth shall have access to its reading and reference rooms under the same conditions as residents of the community.

Whenever the Worcester Public Library Board of Directors votes to implement the above policy, it will notify the affected community’s library board of trustees and its selectpersons, city council, mayor or town manager.

The Worcester Public Library Board of Directors will provide immediate reinstatement of borrowing and interlibrary loan privileges to all affected borrowers once a library is recertified.

If a community is interested in contracting for library services from the Worcester Public Library, the Board of Directors will consider such a request.

This is a revision of the policy approved by the Worcester Public Library Board of Directors June 14, 1994. Recommended by the Community Services Committee to the Board March 13, 2007.

Approved by the Board of Directors, March 13, 2007.