Metro Boston Library Network FAQs

  • General Questions

    The Metro Boston Library Network is a network of public, school and academic libraries in the Metro Boston area. MBLN is one of the nine library consortia located in Massachusetts. MBLN hosts and supports the Network ILS (Integrated Library System) and provides technical support and staff training, facilitates the sharing of materials and assists in managing internet connectivity for members. MBLN is primarily funded through membership fees and receives significant support through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). To learn more about this funding, visit the Grants to Networks page of the MBLC website: https://mblc.state.ma.us.

    Additional funding for telecommunications comes from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) E-rate program.

    If you live, work, or go to school in Massachusetts, you are eligible for a library card at the BPL and at most of our MBLN Public Library members. Can’t make it to the library in person? Sign up for an eCard to use our electronic resources. If you want to borrow physical materials, you can upgrade to a physical card in person at any of our Public Library members.  

    Public library patrons may register, renew or replace a card at any MBLN public library.

    Come with a picture ID and proof of Massachusetts residency. A Massachusetts driver’s license or ID card typically satisfies both requirements but check with the individual member library for specifics.

    Policies may vary at each MBLN library, so ask your local library for information regarding requests, loan periods, renewals and fines. The owning library sets the policies for their materials. For pickup periods, loan periods, renewals and lost items, the policies of the lending library prevail. Because you may borrow materials from different libraries, you may see overdue fines on some materials and not others.

    Delivery for MBLN member libraries is made possible through the Massachusetts Library System.

    Materials borrowed from MBLN libraries, except museum passes, Library of Things items, some computer equipment, and non-renewable inter-library loans, may be returned to any MBLN Public Library member and Fisher College.

    Eligible materials renew automatically at the end of the loan period, up to two times. Items won't renew if another patron has a hold on them and no other copies are available, or if the item is restricted due to the lending library policy.

    You can also renew items yourself on your checked out page, but this will result in an earlier due date than the automatic process.

    If you have supplied your library with your email address or have signed up for text message notifications, you will receive a courtesy notification of which items have automatically renewed and which are due soon.

    All general circulating material is fine-free. Some specific exceptions (such as hotspots, equipment, and Library of Things items) may assess overdue fines, and these are determined by local library policy.

    Please contact the owning library for lost items. Lost item payments for Malden, Chelsea, and Fisher owned items may be made at those libraries; please contact the library directly for detailed information on how to resolve lost items.