You should contact your library directly for help with your library account, including account expiration, change of address, overdue items, returns, etc., or for interlibrary loan requests, purchase suggestions, etc.
NOBLE Libraries — List of libraries with contact information
The Commonwealth Catalog extends your search beyond your local library’s resources. In one easy step, you can search through millions of items at participating libraries across Massachusetts to find the books, DVDs, and music you’re looking for. Make a request and it will be delivered right to your local library for quick pickup.
To connect to the Commonwealth Catalog, use your library’s links in the list below. Choose the Search link to use the catalog without logging in first; choose the Log In link to login using your library card number and last name to search, place requests on titles and to check the status of previous requests.
Any questions? Just contact your library for help! Read more “Commonwealth Catalog”
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Looking for a good book? Try NoveList Plus, an online service helps you find the next book in a series, fiction or nonfiction titles based on subject, genre or mood, read-alikes for your favorite authors or books, reading group guides and more. You’ll need your library card to use this from home.
NoveList Plus — Book recommendations and more for all ages
NoveList K-8 Plus — Try this version with recommendations just for children and teens
The North Of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) provides Internet access to member libraries for the use of their staff and patrons. As an interconnected network of networks, the Internet offers an unsurpassed collection of materials from millions of sources across the globe. These files provide access to information and ideas which often are not otherwise available.
However, users should note the following:
Approved by Executive Board 8/20/97
Approved by Members 9/18/97 Read more “Internet Policy”
One of the cornerstones of librarianship is respect for the privacy of library users. The North Of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) and our member libraries recognize the importance of protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of the information that you share with us when you use our web sites or other library services. Described below is our policy on the collection, use, disclosure, maintenance and protection of personal information that you provide to us.
When applying for a library card at any of our libraries, we must obtain certain information about you in order to provide you with a library account. If you are affiliated with our college libraries, we may receive personally identifiable information to create and update your library account from your college.
We will maintain confidentiality of information received, and materials consulted, borrowed or acquired, including database search records, circulation records, interlibrary loan records, and other personally identifiable uses of library materials, facilities, or services through NOBLE.
NOBLE maintains several web-based management tools, such as forms related to renewing books, saving search histories or resource preferences, requesting materials, etc. The personally identifiable information collected through these tools and stored in NOBLE’s computer systems will only be used to maintain your account and provide services to you and is not made available to any other entity outside NOBLE except as required by law or appropriate law enforcement procedures.
Public library users have the option of providing us with your e-mail address for the purpose of notifying you about your library account. Public library users may request that we remove your e-mail address from your record at any time.
When you use the NOBLE website and library catalog, the NOBLE web server collects certain technical information from your web browser, including your browser type, operating system type, internet address, and the web address of the page from which you linked to our site. In some cases our web server may use browser “cookies” or other technologies to maintain session and preference information or to provide other complex functionality. You may adjust your Internet browser to disable the use of cookies and other web technologies; however, some features of this website may not function properly if you block these technologies. Any information that we automatically collect via this web site is only used internally for technical troubleshooting, to improve the usability of our website, and to track aggregate statistical trends.
Except for information that you choose to submit to us (through web forms, e-mail messages or other communication), NOBLE does not collect any personally identifiable information (such as your name, address, phone number, age, gender, ID numbers, etc.) on our website. If you do choose to submit personally identifiable information to us, that information is used only for the purpose for which you submitted it, and will not be used for other purposes. Information from other sources is not combined with the information that we collect. While we may disclose information about use of our web site in aggregate (such as server use statistics) we will not disclose to third parties any information that could be used to identify individuals or their use of NOBLE resources, except as required by law or appropriate law enforcement procedures.
Any person is entitled to view their library account information in person with positive identification in our libraries. Only patrons with proper identification may correct their library account information through the library. The records of minors with their own cards are also considered to be private to those persons. Parents or legal guardians who are responsible for a child’s library materials may obtain records pertaining to overdue items.
NOBLE provides links to a variety of sites and services.
Some licensed electronic resources contracted for the use of our constituents by NOBLE, our libraries, the Massachusetts Library System and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners require verification of a valid library account.
Our website contains links to websites and licensed databases that are not maintained or supported by NOBLE or our libraries. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these external web sites, and we encourage users of these resources to familiarize themselves with the policies of the providers of these services and resources.
Only authorized library and NOBLE staff with assigned password may access personally identifiable information stored in NOBLE’s computer systems and then only for the purpose of performing library work. We use industry-standard security measures to protect any personal information that you may provide to us.
All NOBLE servers use the TLS/SSL security standard to establish an encrypted connection ensuring that data transmitted to and from users and our member libraries is private and secure.
All contractors to whom patron data or access to patron data is provided must execute a document in the format provided by NOBLE specifically citing that the patron data will not be retained nor sold or otherwise distributed or disclosed.
This policy is based on the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association, which in Article III states: ‘We protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted,’ and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 78, Section 7, which states, “…that part of the records of a public library which reveals the identity and intellectual pursuits of a person using such library shall not be public record as defined by clause twenty-sixth of section seven of chapter four”.
NOBLE recognizes and utilizes Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 78, Section 7, which states: “Library authorities may disclose or exchange information relating to library users for the purposes of inter-library cooperation and coordination, including but not limited to, the purposes of facilitating the sharing of resources among library jurisdictions as authorized by clause (1) of section nineteen E or enforcing the provisions of sections Read more “NOBLE Privacy Policy”
» Read moreOur mission statement is simple:
NOBLE: the technology partner for libraries north of Boston
The North Of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) is a cooperative effort of 25 area libraries founded to improve library service through automation. Seventeen public library members, seven academic libraries and one special library are members of NOBLE.
NOBLE was the first automated resource sharing network in Massachusetts and the first on the Internet. Since its founding over forty years ago, NOBLE has cost-effectively improved service to its libraries and their users through technology, in ways not possible at its inception.
Initially facilitating a shared database of library holdings, NOBLE was founded to improve library service by streamlining the identification and sharing of needed library resources among member libraries. In addition to managing and adding value to a shared library automation system, services have grown to include shared electronic resources — online periodical databases, downloadable audiobooks and e-books and a digital library. NOBLE also provides a gateway to other Internet resources and resources provided by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Massachusetts Library System.
NOBLE is governed by its member libraries who approve the annual budget, establish NOBLE policies and elect officers. An Executive Board, comprised of the four officers and five at-large library directors oversees NOBLE operations and our professional staff of librarians and technical staff. NOBLE is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit corporation recognized as a charitable organization by the Massachusetts Attorney General. We welcome donations to improve our downloadable ebook and audiobook services and other services.
The cooperative nature of NOBLE, coupled with significant grant funding, provide technology and services that would be far out of reach for a single library. Working together through NOBLE, our libraries have been able to extend the reach of the library, becoming a 24-hour information source via the Internet.
NOBLE services have grown in recent years as our libraries’ use of technology has grown to better meet the needs of member libraries and their users.
Library users are no longer limited to the tens of thousands of works at their particular location. Instead, access is available to over three million items in NOBLE libraries. Likewise, all NOBLE library users enjoy access to an online periodical collection of over 4,000 titles in full text in general and specialized collections, many times larger than any single library’s collection.
A growing collection of downloadable audiobooks, ebooks and magazines is available to enjoy online.
Beyond NOBLE, access is provided to library catalogs and library resources across Massachusetts, and regional, national and international information sources through the World Wide Web. NOBLE provides a gateway to these other information sources.
NOBLE provides direct access to the EBSCO MasterFile Premier general periodicals database, and the Health Source Consumer Edition, Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition, Business Source Premier, Academic Source Elite and Newspaper Source databases for all members. The periodical databases now offer more than 4,000 periodical titles online in full text. The databases are updated daily, and are available at all member libraries and from homes, schools and businesses around the clock via the Internet with a valid borrower’s card from a NOBLE library here.
EBSCO access is funded by the libraries of NOBLE. Libraries can also license additional databases and services from the EBSCO catalog at a significant discount through NOBLE’s group contract.
Over half a million full-text articles from EBSCO are viewed by NOBLE users annually.
NOBLE’s OverDrive service provides online access to popular downloadable audiobooks, ebooks and magazines. Over 76,000 ebooks and almost 44,000 audiobooks are available, with 125 in “always available” unlimited user format. Over 4,000 magazine titles are also always available.
NOBLE has partnered with seven other Massachusetts library networks to reciprocally share OverDrive collections, expanding the available items more than fivefold.
NOBLE is helping our libraries digitize and make available their local history and institutional history legacy on the Web.
Thousands of long-hidden images have been digitized and are available through the NOBLE Digital Heritage website, linked through our catalog, and linked to the statewide Digital Commonwealth project and the national Digital Public Library of America.
NOBLE’s full-featured Web catalog is available in member libraries and on the Internet at http://catalog.noblenet.org.
Users can search and request library materials directly from home or at the library, and can renew their own books and check their accounts via the Web.
NOBLE’s catalog combines the 3.1 million holdings of our public and academic libraries into one catalog. Our Web catalog also gives users the choice of searching one library, a subset of libraries or the entire database.
Keyword searching expands access to almost any word in the catalog record. Boolean searching, using a combination of search terms, is also available, as is limiting by format (videorecordings, books, etc.) and language.
Needed items not available in NOBLE can be directly requested through the Commonwealth Catalog, which links systems like NOBLE throughout Massachusetts into one search and request interface, with materials delivered to your library.
NOBLE provides a shared, full-functioned Evergreen integrated library management system to assist our member libraries in efficient operation. Circulation transaction tracking, hold and overdue management, cataloging with database maintenance and authority control, software to aid in acquisition of library materials and a system to automate the receipt of magazines, journals and other serials are all part of the integrated system.
Over 3.6 million items are loaned by NOBLE libraries annually.
NOBLE was founded by member libraries to foster the sharing of books and other library collections among neighboring libraries through automation 30 years ago.
Currently over 800,000 items are shared among NOBLE libraries annually, through interlibrary transfers and walk-in loans to patrons of other NOBLE libraries. NOBLE’s integrated systems facilitate the requesting and tracking of interlibrary loan materials.
Doctoral research materials to children’s picture books are available via resource sharing among NOBLE libraries, including 2.35 million books, Read more “About NOBLE”
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Halloween is coming! Be sure you carve out some time to read — here’s a list of picture books and easy readers, linked to the library catalog to make it easy to find and request them.