FAQs

General FAQ

• How can I offer a program at the library?

The purpose of Library programs should be educational, not promotional. Library programs are not an opportunity to promote a business or service. Presenters shall not actively promote their businesses during library programs. Brochures, flyers and business cards may be made available to attendees at an informational table but should not be included in presenter handouts.

Proposed Program Dates Proposal Submission Deadline
Winter (January 1 - March 22) : must be received by December 1
Spring (March 23 - May 31): must be received by February 1
Summer (June 1 - August 31): must be received by April 1
Fall (September 1 - December 31): must be received by July 1

Authors and performers may sell their books, CDs and DVDs at Library programs. Third party vendors are not allowed, and the Library cannot provide staff support for selling of materials.

A completed W-9 form is required unless you are offering to present for free. This, and any promotional materials can be emailed to librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org once your proposal has been accepted.

If you are interested in presenting a program at the GPL, please complete this form. A member of our programming committee will respond to you as soon as possible.

• How do I apply for a job at the Greenfield Public Library?

Full- and part-time jobs, including professional, paraprofessional and temporary openings, will be listed on the Greenfield City website when available. All applications, interviews and hiring is done through the Human Resources Department of the City of Greenfield. Please, no phone calls.

Click the following link to view the city's employment page: https://greenfield-ma.gov/departments/human_resources/job_openings.php

• How do I pay my fines?

While GPL no longer charges late fees (exceptions: museum passes still incur a $5/day late charge if not returned by 8:30am the next day and Out of Network loans incur a late fee of $1/day), replacement charges for lost or damaged items are still charged, as are fines for other libraries' materials. Credit and debit cards are accepted online.

How to pay fines online:

• Login to your account.
• Follow the instructions under the View and Pay Charges to pay any fees on your account.
• How Do I Volunteer at GPL?

GPL is looking for volunteers to assist staff with various duties in the library. If you are interested, please read the policy below, then contact the library to be added to our list. A staff member will then be in contact with you. The first step is to complete our Volunteer Interest Form.

Volunteer Policy

The Greenfield Public Library Volunteer Program is designed to expand and enhance public service to the community. Volunteers generally provide support services to paid staff; work on special projects; or deliver library materials to the homebound. Volunteers are expected to act in accordance with library policies and to reflect positive customer service attitudes to all library patrons.

Selection of Volunteers
Volunteers are selected based on their qualifications in relation to the needs of the library at any given time, and based on their ability to commit to a consistent schedule of volunteer hours. Selection of in-house volunteers is the responsibility of the Director and/or Asst. Director in conjunction with the Volunteer Coordinator; selection of delivery volunteers is the responsibility of the Homebound Volunteer Coordinator.

Prospective volunteers are requested to fill out an application form and will be interviewed by one of the above individuals. If there are no suitable volunteer opportunities, application forms will be kept on file for a period of one year. Applicants will be called if a project is identified which matches their interests or qualifications.

In-House Volunteers

Roles and Responsibilities
The library depends on its volunteers for a wide variety of tasks which otherwise need to be assigned to library staff. We therefore ask volunteers to be reliable in their commitment to the library and to notify the library in advance if they are unable to work their regularly schedule time slot. In turn, volunteers will be notified immediately on any given day when the library opens late or closes early for any reason.Individuals are asked to wear a name badge that identifies them as a volunteer while they are working at the library. Volunteers are expected to refer all requests for information to the library staff, other than purely directional questions (e.g. where is the bathroom; where is the children’s room, etc.).Volunteers are asked to keep an accurate record of the hours they work each week, for the use of the Director.

• Training and Supervision
  The Library Director and Volunteer Coordinator coordinate the in-house volunteer program. Volunteers will receive specific training in their assigned duties from the library staff member who directly supervises their work. All reasonable care will be taken to ensure the safety of volunteers.
• Work Schedules
  Volunteers shall only work during hours when adequate supervision is available. Typically, a volunteer works a 2-3 hour time slot once each week. Individual work schedules and specific time commitments will be mutually arranged in advance by the volunteer and the Director or immediate supervisor.

Homebound Volunteers

Roles & Responsibilities
The mission of the homebound delivery program is to provide books and other library materials to patrons of the Greenfield Library who are unable to come to the library, whether on a temporary or a permanent basis.Persons needing delivery are referred to the Homebound Volunteer Coordinator. The Coordinator will assess each homebound situation with the goal of assuring safe access and a healthy environment for the delivery volunteer and arranging a suitable match between the homebound patron and the delivery person.

• Training & Supervision
  The Homebound Volunteer Coordinator supervises the homebound delivery program. The Coordinator provides continual support and guidance to homebound volunteers in their interactions with at-home patrons and in their selection of materials. The Coordinator also works closely with library staff to facilitate borrowing and delivery of library materials to the homebound.
• Work Schedules
  Individual schedules and specific delivery times will be mutually arranged by the delivery volunteer and the homebound patron.

Community Service
Persons who seek volunteer assignments at the Greenfield Public Library to meet a requirement set by an outside agency for the performance of community service shall be subject to the above selection process and all other provisions of this policy.

Employment of Volunteers in the Library
Volunteers should follow the Town of Greenfield employment process in order to obtain paid employment in the library.

Leaving Volunteer Service
A volunteer selected for work on a special project will discontinue service when that project is completed or terminated, unless other arrangements have been made.

Whenever possible, the library will make an effort to reassign the volunteer. However, if no other mutually suitable volunteer position exists at the time, the volunteer will be asked to discontinue service and his or her application will be kept on file for one year, subject to review should a suitable position become available during that time.

In the event that a volunteer is unable to adequately perform the duties assigned to him or her, and no other appropriate positions are available, the volunteer may be removed from service.

• How much can I borrow?

You can have 50 physical items on your library card at any one time! These can include any combination of the following:

• 50 books
• 10 DVDs
• 10 Books on CD
• 20 Magazines
• 20 Music CDs

With your GPL card, you can also borrow 10 items a month from Libby (eBooks, audiobooks & magazines) and have 10 holds and 6 items a month from Hoopla (requires a GPL card).

Residents of Massachusetts can also get a BPL ecard, where you can access the BPL's Libby collection as well as the many other online resources offered by the BPL.

Patrons who meet the following criteria:

• Are legally blind with vision of 20/200 or less, or have a visual field no greater than 20 degrees
• Have corrected vision, but cannot see well enough to read with comfort for extended periods of time
• Have a physical condition that makes holding a book difficult
• Have been certified by a “competent authority” (a professional such as a doctor, ophthalmologist, registered nurse, librarian, or social worker) as having a perceptual or reading disability and unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability

can also apply for free services from the Perkins Library. Ask at the Information Services Desk if you have questions!

• Show 2 More...
Printing Costs

Printing at the GPL can be done from our wired computers, from your personal device, or even from your home! Costs are as follows and include printing from a USB/flash drive:

• B&W single side: $.20/page
• B&W double sided: $.40/page
• Color single side: $.50/page
• Color double sided: $1.00/page

To print from your personal device or from home, use our mobile printing service. Prints are held for 12 hours. If you have questions about mobile printing, please contact our Information Services department, and we will be happy to help.

Scanning to or from a USB/flash drive is free.

What is Homebound Delivery?

About the Program

The Homebound Delivery Program is a service of the Library and the Friends of the Library. Its purpose is to deliver materials to Greenfield residents who are unable to travel to the library. The service is intended to serve people who are homebound for any reason. This includes people with disabilities or health problems, people who are unable to get out due to inclement weather, and those who lack transportation to the library. The materials will be brought to your home by a library volunteer. The volunteers are men and women who have taken part in a brief training program and are willing to meet with you to discuss your unique needs. The volunteer will consult with you to learn the types of library resources you desire. He or she can pick up specific materials you request, or select them for you. You can get started by completing the form below or printing out and completing the registration form at the bottom of this page.. Our volunteer coordinators will be in touch to talk with you about your Homebound Delivery needs.

How the Program Works

• Your volunteer will visit your home at least every three weeks to make deliveries and to pick up materials you are returning.
• In addition to books, you may request audio books, magazines and DVDs.
• Greenfield books and audio books will circulate for six weeks at a time. DVDs and magazines will circulate for one week.
• All Greenfield materials may be renewed by phone two times. Call the library circulation desk at 772-1544 to renew your materials, or ask your volunteer to renew them for you.
• Your volunteer will carry your books to and from the library in a Greenfield Public Library book bag.
• At each visit, your volunteer will keep a list of the books she or he is leaving with you.
• Your volunteer will call you within 24 hours before each visit to pick up or deliver books so that you can agree on the time and details for the visit.
• For information or to sign up for the program call Borrower Services at 413-772- 1544 x 5100

Complete the Application form online or print one out to complete and return to the library.