| Use of Collections |
Due to the size, age and complexity of the collection, only library staff may access to the State Library stacks.
To request an item from the collection:
- Search the library catalogs
- Fill out a "call slip" with the pertinent information
- Submit it to staff at the reference desk or Special Collections desk.
A library staff member will retrieve the materials from the stacks and place them on the reference desk or Special Collections desk, where you may pick them up. Please return materials to the appropriate desk after you are done using them.
Patrons may ask the reference department to set aside materials on reserve if they expect to return later for further research.
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| Library Catalogs |
All library materials are represented in one of these two catalogs:
Card Catalog: located in the main reading room, includes materials that were processed by the library prior to 1975.
Online Catalog: includes library materials processed by the library from 1975 on. In general, earlier materials are not included in the online catalog. |
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| Electronic Resources |
In-library use: All resources listed on our electronic resources page, except Lexis, are available for the general public to use.
Remote access: Many resources outlined on our electronic resources page, are available with a valid Massachusetts public library card. Because of licensing restrictions, Loislaw and Proquest require a State Library of Massachusetts Library card to use.
Click here to access the library databases. |
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| Reference Service |
| Reference librarians at the State Library will research and respond to reference questions either in-person, over the phone (617-727-2590), or by email. Email questions should be of the type that can be answered briefly and relate to legislative, legal or governmental information. (For example: "Who were the senators from Massachusetts in 1886?") |
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| Copying Facilities and Privileges |
| Interns may copy up to 15 pages per Legislative Office per day. Please ask for a short term loan to take material back to your office for extended photocopying. Special Collections has specific photo reproduction procedures. |
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| Library Cards |
| State House interns are not issued library cards. |
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| Borrowing Materials |
Interns are strongly encouraged to use the library's resources. Materials are available for a short term loan based on a phone call to the intern's supervisor authorizing loan activity, and at the discretion of State Library reference staff. Materials may also be borrowed using a supervisor's library card. Responsibility for loaned materials rests with the intern's supervisor.
The standard loan period for materials in our stacks is 30 days. Materials may be renewed twice; this can be done either in person or by phone. If a project necessitates keeping materials longer, please contact the head of reference for special arrangements.
Reference titles may be taken out on a short-term loan for a limited amount of time, for extensive photocopying, or for consultation. Please check with the reference desk before proceeding to the circulation desk when requesting a short-term loan.
Both standard and short-term loans should be charged out and returned at the circulation desk, at the third floor entrance of the library. Items may be recalled should another state employee require them for their work. |
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| Inter-Library Loan Services |
This program is devoted to supporting research programs in state government. We do not supply non-work related loan requests for personal reading or continuing education courses; please inquire at your local public library about acquiring these through its inter-library loan service.
Interns may submit requests on behalf of project supervisors, who must hold valid State Library cards. Please present a letter from your project supervisor explaining that you are borrowing materials for them. If a letter is not available, the reference staff will phone the person's office to verify this. |
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