Did you know ? : Holds and Requests

Welcome to "Did You Know ?", a semi-regular series of posts that will give you an inside scoop about what goes on at your library. This is the first post in the series. Without further ado...

Did You Know ? : Holds and Requests

Say that you're looking for that new, just released, hard-to-find book. Our library doesn't have it, and you've driven around to several others in the area who are also fresh out. What's an eager reader to do in a situation like this? Here's a list of your options, some of which you might not know about:

1) Buy the book - this is not preferable, because books cost money, while libraries are free!

2) Make a request on your account after the book is released - this is better than buying the book, but you may still have to wait a while if the book is by a popular author

3) Make a request on your account before the book is released - this is your best option to ensure that it will be in your hands as soon as possible. Some libraries start adding up-and-coming books to their catalogs as soon as three weeks in advance of their release so that people can get a head start. Ask your local library if they do this with their items.

What's interesting to note is that the request list is usually pooled from all available copies at all available libraries (which could be as many as 34). This gives you a better chance of getting the item sooner.

To round out the post, which is fast becoming a book unto itself, here is a list of terminology associated with requesting books; so now you can speak to your librarian in their native Librarianese.

hold - analogous to a request

hold shelf - commonly used term for the place where requested items that have come in are kept

item request list/hold queue/request queue - the list of patrons who have a request in for that particular title; each request is assigned a number following the order in which the requests were made

"on hold" - this means that an item that you've requested has arrived at the pickup point, and is ready for you to pick it up

pickup point - the location at which you will pick up the requested item

"put on the list"/"put your name on the list" - your name is added to the request queue for that item

request - your name is in the request queue for a particular item

"the item you've requested has come in for you" - the item that you've requested has arrived at the pickup point, and is sitting on the hold shelf

"there are X people ahead of you" - X many people have also requested this item. Your position in the request queue is therefore X+1

Here is a typical scenario using these terms: Let's say that Mark Twain has written a hot new book that is set to be released on August 1, 2007. You go down to the library on July 12 and ask if you can put your name on the list. The librarian tells you sure. You say that would be fantastic. The librarian then tells you that there are 70 people ahead of you in the request list. You ask how many copies will be available. She checks and replies 32. You say that's fine. She asks you what the pickup point should be. You reply that you'll pick it up here. The librarian puts the request through, and says okay, you're all set. You say thanks, and out of gratitude march down to the town hall and demand that the library's budget be raised.

Okay, maybe that last part was a little improbable. If you've made it this far, you are to be commended! Check back next week (or so) for another exciting and hopefully shorter post.