Do patrons who are not affiliated to the University but are Massachusetts residents have access to online books or e-journals from their home?

No, patrons must be either a current student, staff or faculty of the University. Basically anyone with a valid IT account which they will need to enter when they are trying to access these materials remotely. State borrowers can only take out print materials. They would have to use Library computers to view on line material. 

If you are a Mass resident and want to get a Library card where do you send them? -Jackie

If they need to get a card because they are not affiliated with UMass they need to go to the LC Desk.

Where do you go if you want to take books but do not have a card to do this? I sent them to the LC Desk? -Jackie

You were right to send them to the LC Desk on the Lower Level. If the person normally has a card but does not have one on them they can check items out at the LC Desk once a semester with a picture ID. They must have a picture ID. If they need to get a card because they are not affiliated with UMass they also need to go to the LC Desk.

Is the UCard the only thing that can be used at the Self Check-Out Machine?

The only cards that can be used at the Self Check-Out machine are the UCard (student, staff, and faculty ID), the card that state borrowers get from the Circulation/Reserves Desk, and IDs from the other 5-College institutions.

How do non-students check out books?

Because UMass is a state institution any person who lives in the state of Massachusetts is eligible for a state borrowers card. Another way someone can get a card is if they are not a Massachusetts resident but are attending a school in Massachusetts. If anyone comes to the desk wanting to check out materials but is not affiliated with UMass just send them to the LC Desk on the Lower Level, they can explain the process and are the people who issue the Library cards.