Library books or equipment can be picked up and returned on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 10 am and 4 pm. By picking up any library equipment, you agree to our policies and terms of use.

Please wait near the bus stop outside the main building and wear a mask while on campus. Upon arrival on campus, call 413-775-1837. You will be asked if you are picking up or returning.

If returning, you will be asked what type of equipment you are returning. Before arriving please check that all the accessories with equipment are included (power cords, adapters, cases, lens caps, telescopes, etc.). A librarian will come out and get the item(s). If there are any problems with your equipment, please let the librarian know.

If picking up, you will be asked for your name. A librarian will come out with the item(s) on hold for you. Do not come to campus unless you have received email confirmation that your material is ready for you. You will be asked to show a photo ID before being given equipment. If you do not pick up equipment within 2 weeks, it may be given to the next student in line.

If you are taking a fall semester class and have material or equipment that is due, please be in touch with a librarian. Upon confirmation of registration, you may keep the equipment for the duration of the fall semester.

If you are unable to come to campus during the curbside pickup hours, please let us know as soon as possible and we’ll try to make alternate arrangements.

The library has circulating laptops and wifi hotspots, as well as other equipment, available to help meet academic needs. Please place a hold on the equipment you require and regularly check your student email and phone for details on how and when to pickup.

Laptops

• Search the catalog for the type of laptop you need: Chromebook, Windows Laptop, or MacBook Pro.
• If you aren’t sure what type of laptop you need, be in touch with a librarian before placing a hold. We can help assess your needs, as well as what we have immediately available.
• Follow the link above, which will bring you to the library catalog.
• Click the ‘Place Hold’ icon with the green check mark.
• Enter your library card number. This number is 14 digits with no spaces, and is directly below the barcode on your student ID or library card.
• If you do not have a GCC library card, or have lost it, please apply online on our website. We will create a card for you ASAP during our open hours.
• Enter your password, which will be your last name in all CAPS unless you’ve changed it.
• Click ‘Log In’.
• On the following screen, pickup location needs to be ‘GCC Library’.
• Click ‘Submit’.
• Check your student email regularly for details on when/how to pickup a laptop. Pickup is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 10 am and 4 pm. Details on how to pick up will be sent to your student email when your equipment is ready.

Hotspots

Some companies are making free internet available for a limited amount of time due to the COVID-19 crisis. For details, see our handout on internet access. A librarian is happy to walk through this with you but you may be able to help yourself for immediate internet access.

• If none of these options work for you, place a hold on a wifi hotspot. To place a hold:
• Follow the link above, which will bring you to the library catalog.
• Click the ‘Place Hold’ icon with the green check mark.
• Enter your library card number. This number is 14 digits with no spaces, and is directly below the barcode on your student ID or library card.
• If you do not have a GCC library card, or have lost it, please apply online on our website. We will create a card for you ASAP during our open hours.
• Enter your password, which will be your last name in all CAPS unless you’ve changed it.
• Click ‘Log In’.
• On the following screen, pickup location needs to be ‘GCC Library’.
• Click ‘Submit’.
• Check your student email regularly for details on when/how to pickup a laptop. Pickup is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 10 am and 4 pm. Details on how to pick up will be sent to your student email when your equipment is ready.

We recognize that a laptop or wifi hotspot alone may not solve all of the problems that closing the campus poses. If you have an unsafe home environment, have lost your job, or are concerned about putting food on the table – please, please, please focus on taking care of basic needs, first, and be in touch with your faculty member and support services on campus.

Some companies are making free internet available for a limited amount of time due to the COVID-19 crisis. For details, see our handout on internet access. A librarian is happy to walk through this with you but you may be able to help yourself for immediate internet access.

• If none of these options work for you, place a hold on a library hotspot. Search the catalog for wifi hotspot. To place a hold:
• Follow the link above, which will bring you to the library catalog.
• Click the ‘Place Hold’ icon with the green check mark.
• Enter your library card number. This number is 14 digits with no spaces, and is directly below the barcode on your student ID or library card.
• If you do not have a GCC library card, or have lost it, please apply online on our website. We will create a card for you ASAP during our open hours.
• Enter your password, which will be your last name in all CAPS unless you’ve changed it.
• Click ‘Log In’.
• On the following screen, pickup location needs to be ‘GCC Library’.
• Click ‘Submit’.
• Check your student email regularly for details on when/how to pickup a laptop. Pickup is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 10 am and 4 pm. Details on how to pick up will be sent to your student email when your equipment is ready.

Unfortunately, due to staffing, copyright, and publisher limitations, the library is unable to offer reserve textbook access at this time. Please be in touch with your faculty member if you do not have access to the textbook.

Librarians are available to assist you virtually during library hours and can answer questions about the any of the above items or regular research concerns as we are always able to do! Technology questions are temporarily being handled exclusively by the Student Help Desk. Be in touch with us in whatever ways work best for you:

• Chat: https://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/ask/
  (Please note that our chat service has a screenshare functionality that requires no login or additional software. It can be helpful when  running a database search.)
• Text: (413) 376-7706
• Call: (413) 775-1830
• Email: reference@gcc.mass.edu

We can also schedule one-on-one meetings via Zoom, Google Meet, or Jitsi.

All library materials, including laptops and hotspots, are currently checked out for the full semester to GCC students, faculty, and staff. All items will be due following the end of the fall semester, on January 4, 2021. The GCC library never charges overdue fines.

Books can be returned to any CWMARS library. Hotspots and laptops must be returned to GCC.

We are closed to in person visitors for the foreseeable future. Librarians are available for online and phone support from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and by appointment. Curbside pickups and returns are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 10 am to 4 pm.

To schedule an appointment outside of regular hours, email us at reference@gcc.mass.edu or leave a voicemail at 413-775-1831. We will be in touch and can schedule to meet via phone, Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi, or chat.

For exceptions, visit our hours page.

All of our library databases, as well as a large selection of ebooks, are available from anywhere with an internet connection with a GCC library card. If you do not have a GCC library card, you can apply for one on our website (https://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/cards/). We will be making cards daily and your library barcode will be emailed to you so that you may access these resources.