Homebound patron services

The SPL offers materials selection and delivery service to homebound patrons in Saugus.

  • Library staff will deliver SPL-owned, staff-selected items (books, dvds, cds, etc.) based on patron preferences for genres and formats as determined during a brief interview at the start of enrollment. Loan periods for SPL-owned items will be extended to accommodate the delivery schedule; if an item becomes due in between deliveries/pick-ups, the patron will not be responsible for late fees on that item.
  • Any enrolled patron may elect to receive Saugus and NOBLE network holds in their deliveries, but NOBLE network loan periods and owning-library fines schedules will apply; SPL staff will not alter the hold period, due date or fines accrued on NOBLE network items. Any active, unexpired holds that are on the pick-up shelf on the scheduled day of delivery may be included in the delivery.
  • Enrolled patrons may also elect to add a proxy contact to their library account who may pick-up/receive items for them by notifying the library in writing. Enrolled patrons will be responsible for any items checked out to / received by these proxies.
  • The program operates on a set, two-week delivery schedule. Items must be received by the enrolled patron in person and will not be left unattended.
  • The terms of the program may change to accommodate increased participation or staffing levels. Any enrolled patrons will be notified in advance of any changes to service.

To get started with the program, contact a Reference Librarian at sau@noblenet.org or call 781.231.4168 and select Reference Department.

The SPL also offers online access to a wide variety of e-resources that patrons may enjoy from home. Visit our E-resources page for a full list, including ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows and music through Hoopla and Overdrive and dozens of research databases organized by subject.

Beyond our products and services, there are other ways to access library materials that are right for you.

  • The Perkins Library at the Perkins School for the Blind – Patrons of the Perkins Library have access to a world of resources – from braille and audio books to accessible magazines and museum passes. Readers with visual impairment, blindness or physical disability are able to read independently in a format most comfortable to them.
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) – Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. A service of the Library of Congress.