Place Holds

Overview

Use the library catalogue to place a request on library material if:

• The item is checked out to another patron
• The item is not available at your local branch and you would like an available copy from another VPL branch sent to your branch
• The item has been ordered by the library

The library has a system-wide request process. You will receive library notice by phone or by email ONLY WHEN your requested item is available for pick up. The Central Library and some branches have self-serve pick up of holds in a public area. If you have confidentiality concerns, please consult with a VPL staff member. You have 7 days in which to pickup your request. A maximum of 50 requests are permitted at one time.

There is a $1.00 charge for each hold not picked up before the pickup date. You will not be charged if a hold is canceled before the pickup date.

About annual free requests:

• You can have 50 free requests each calendar year.
• Additional requests are $0.50 each and are charged when the request is placed.
• Unused free requests are not carried forward to the next year.

Tip to save a free request:

It is not necessary to use one of your 50 annual free computer requests if the item you want is currently on the shelf at one of our branches and you plan to pick it up immediately from that branch. You can:

• Write down the catalogue number (call #)
• Phone the branch directly and ask to have the item set aside for you for three days to pick up
• Go to that branch and pick up the item

Please note: three-day holds are not intended for setting aside material when you have reached your borrowing limits.

Request options include:

• Placing Requests (via library catalogue) - see procedure below.
• Checking Requests (via My Account or Telecirc).
• Cancelling Requests
  

  You can cancel requests for items currently being held for you and for items not yet being held for you via My Account.

  You can cancel requests for items currently being held for you via Telecirc.

• Suspending and reactivating your Requests (via My Account)
  If you are going to be unavailable to pick up your requests, for reasons such as vacation, you may set your requests to INACTIVE at the start of that period of time. This way requests will not be trapped while you are away and you will not lose your position in the request queue or be charged. Once you return, you must set your requests back to ACTIVE in order for them to start being trapped for you again. You cannot change the status on items which have already been put aside for you.