The South Berwick Public Library is part of the Maine Infonet Library System (MILS). We have joined other small Maine libraries to give you access to direct requesting from the larger library community in Maine.
Using MILS, you can place requests on-line yourself for items from other libraries in the system.
We will notify you when items are ready, and you pick them up from your home library. No more waiting for the library to open to call and request. Notifications are by email but we can call you or you can enable text notifications if you prefer.
How to Use Your Account:
On the South Berwick Public Library website, go to “Find Books” in the menu and click the “MILS Catalog.”- Sign into “My Library Account” by entering your name and your 14-digit library card barcode number.
View “My Library Account” to:
- See what you have checked out and when the items are due
- Renew
- Find out If you owe any money
- See what is happening with your requests
- For your borrowing history
How Do I Request an Item?
- On the South Berwick Public Library website, go to “Find Books” in the menu and click the “MILS Catalog.”
- Sign into “My Library Account” by entering your name and your 14-digit library card barcode number.
Search the South Berwick Library Collection
- The starting search is set to look at only the South Berwick Public Library collection.
- If we have the item click “Request.”
- You will see a message saying your request was successful and you will be notified when the item is ready for you.
Search MILS – Maine’s Small Libraries
- This second search will locate items in small libraries in Maine.
- Use the drop down menu where you see “South Berwick Public Library” and choose the first option “View Entire Collection.”
- Hit search again and if you see the item you are looking for click “Request.”
- You will see a message saying your request was successful and you will be notified when it is your turn and the item is ready for you.
Search Maine Cat
- This third search will locate items in the statewide library catalog which includes all larger public libraries and the college and university collections. Use this after you have looked in South Berwick and MILS for faster service. The “Search MaineCat” option shows when you have searched the other two catalogs unsuccessfully.
- If you see the item you are looking for in this catalog and it says “Available” click “Request.” If all copies are currently in use, wait and check the catalog to place your request when it the status is “Available.”
- Choose “South Berwick Public Library” when you are asked to pick your home library from the drop down list.
- Enter your name and 14-digit library card barcode number when prompted.
- You will see a message saying your request was successful and you will be notified when the item is ready for you.
Notifications
Your account is set up for you to receive notifications via email which are sent our automatically through Maine Infonet Library System. (Phone notifications are available upon request.)
You should receive messages when:
- Items you are waiting for are ready for you
- Items are almost due
- Items are overdue (1st courtesy notice)
- Items are overdue (2nd courtesy notice)
- Items are billed for replacement costs (overdue 3 weeks)
Quirks & Troubleshooting Tips
There is a persistent system-wide problem with the email notification system in that messages are frequently not received. People often get a bill before receiving any courtesy notices. You might find them in your junk or spam folder. We apologize that this handy service is not very reliable.
Here are some suggestions for work-arounds:
- “Whitelist” these two email addresses by going into your spam folder, clicking one of the notifications and choosing to “never block sender and/or sender’s domain.”
- mils.noreply@maineinfonet.org
- sbpl@south-berwick.lib.me.us
- Enable text messages by going into your account on the MILS catalog via our website and signing up for SMS Alerts.
- Check your on-line account which will show due dates, items ready for you, late fees and renewal status for all your transactions.
- Keep your checkout receipt handy and put dates on your calendar.
Library staff are ready to show you how to use MILS anytime you visit the library or we can walk you through the process on the phone.
If no library in Maine has the item available to borrow, contact the South Berwick Public Library staff and we can see if we can borrow for you outside of the state system. Movies, audios and books that are published within the past year are not requestable outside of Maine.