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Using the Library

A guide to NECC Library's catalog with information about library cards, loan periods, fines, and requests.

Loan Periods

NECC students currently enrolled in credit courses

  • Full borrowing privileges at the NECC Libraries
  • Borrowing privileges at all HELM libraries with your NECC ID
  • Interlibrary loan privileges for HELM and Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat), the Mass. statewide catalog
  • Off-campus access to NECC databases with your Microsoft 365 credentials
  • Ability to renew and request items online

NECC students currently enrolled in non-credit courses

  • Full borrowing privileges at the NECC Libraries
  • Interlibrary loan privileges for HELM and Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat), the Mass. statewide catalog
  • Off-campus access to NECC databases with your Microsoft 365 credentials
  • Ability to renew and request items online

NECC current faculty and staff

  • Full borrowing privileges at the NECC Libraries 
  • Semester loan for all books except new materials
  • Borrowing privileges at all HELM libraries with your NECC ID
  • Interlibrary loan privileges for HELM and Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat), the Mass. statewide catalog 
  • Off-campus access to databases with your Microsoft 365 credentials
  • Ability to renew and request items online

    Persons not enrolled at NECC who live in Massachusetts

  • Borrowing privileges for books, periodicals, and DVDs from NECC using your Massachusetts public library card
  • Public patrons are encouraged to use their public library services to request ComCat loans 
Lending periods for current NECC students are outlined below.

Books

From NECC – 4 weeks, with one 4-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title; additional renewals mediated by library staff on a case-by-case basis.

From other HELM libraries – 4 weeks, with one 4-week renewal, as long as there are no requests for the title. 

From Commonwealth Catalog – 4 weeks, with no renewal, with a total of 10 requests per semester.
Book - Local Patrons Only From NECC- 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.
Periodicals/Magazines

From NECC – 1 week, with no renewal. Limit to 10 current checkouts.
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewal.

From other HELM libraries – 2 weeks, with no renewal.
​Lending periods for NECC faculty and staff are outlined below.  

Books

From NECC or other HELM libraries – fall semester, December 22, with no renewal; spring semester, May 22, with no renewal; summer semester, August 22, with no renewal.

From Commonwealth Catalog – 4 weeks, with no renewal, for a total of 10 per semester.
Book-Local Patrons Only From NECC- 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.
Periodicals/Magazines

From NECC – 1 week, with no renewal. Limit to 10 current checkouts.
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewal.

From other HELM libraries – 2 weeks, with no renewal.
Lending periods for public patrons are outlined below. Public patrons may borrow a total of 3 items at one time. 

Books

From NECC – 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no requests for the title.
Book-Local Patrons Only From NECC – 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.
Periodicals/Magazines

From NECC – 1 week, with no renewal. Limit to 10 current checkouts.
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewals. Limit to 5 current checkouts.
Commonwealth Catalog Loans

Public patrons must place any Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat) requests through their home library. 

Fees and Fines

  • Overdue books, DVDs, or magazines – no fines are charged
  • Laptops acknowledged by students to be lost -- replacement cost charged, with payment made directly to Enrollment Services at Haverhill or Lawrence campus 
  • Library materials acknowledged by students to be lost – replacement cost charged, with payment made directly to Enrollment Services at Haverhill or Lawrence campus  

Long Overdue Materials

Patrons with items charged to their accounts that are more than 28 days overdue will be billed from the library for the replacement cost of the item and may be subject to suspension of library privileges. 

Students with library debts exceeding $500.00 (e.g., lost laptops) will be unable to register for classes.

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Both campus libraries have book drops so that you may return materials when the libraries are closed. Laptops and calculators may not be placed in the book drops. It is advised that books, dvds, and magazines be placed in plastic bags during inclement weather.  

Haverhill: To the right of the library front door.

Lawrence: At the library entrance in the lower level of the John R. Dimitry Building.

To cite this LibGuide use the following templates:

APA: Northern Essex Community College Library. (Date updated). Title of page. Title of LibGuide. URL

MLA: Northern Essex Community College Library. "Title of Page." Title of LibGuide, Date updated, URL.