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Using the Library

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

Borrowing Privileges

NECC students currently enrolled in for-credit courses and NECC faculty/staff have

  • Full borrowing privileges at the NECC Libraries and all HELM libraries with your NECC ID
  • Borrowing privileges at the University of Massachusetts and all Massachusetts public universities and community colleges with your NECC ID
  • Interlibrary loan privileges for HELM and Commonwealth Catalog (ComCat), the Massachusetts statewide catalog
  • Off-campus access to NECC databases with your NECC library card barcode
  • Ability to renew and request items online

NECC students currently enrolled in non-credit courses have

  • Borrowing privileges at the NECC Libraries
  • Interlibrary loan privileges for HELM

Persons not enrolled at NECC who live in Massachusetts have

  • Limited borrowing privileges for books, audiobooks, and DVDs from NECC using your Massachusetts public library card
Lending periods for current NECC students are outlined below.

Books

Book - Local Patrons Only

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

From NECC- 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.

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, for a total of 10 per semester.
Audiobooks

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

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

From NECC – 1 week, with no renewal.

*NECC students may have 3 issues of a title at once and a limit of 10 on the total number of periodicals/magazines.

The most current issue may not circulate. These issues are identified with a "Current Issue" stamp. When the newest issue arrives, the stamp will be crossed off. 
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewal, for a total of 3 at one time.

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

Books

 

Book-Local Patrons Only

 

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 NECC- 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.

 

From Commonwealth Catalog – 4 weeks, with no renewal, for a total of 10 per semester.
Audiobooks

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

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

From NECC – 1 week, with no renewal.

*NECC faculty and staff may have 3 issues of a title at once and a limit of 10 on the total number of periodicals/magazines.

The most current issue may not circulate. These issues are identified with a "Current Issue" stamp. When the newest issue arrives, the stamp will be crossed off. 
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewal, for a total of 3 at one time.

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

Book-Local Patrons Only

From NECC – 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no requests for the title.

From NECC – 4 weeks, with one 2-week renewal, as long as there are no local requests for the title.
Audiobooks

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

Public patrons may use periodicals/magazines in the library only.
DVDs

From NECC – 2 weeks, with no renewals.
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
  • Overdue laptops – $1.00/hour, with payment made to the computer lab in Haverhill, or the library in Lawrence
  • Lost materials – current replacement cost, 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. 

When an item checked out to a student becomes more than 6 weeks overdue, the replacement cost for the item will be assessed to the NECC student’s college Banner account. Students with library debts exceeding $500.00 will be unable to register for classes.

closed sign


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.

Haverhill: To the left 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.