Holds
What is a hold?
Patrons with valid BPL library cards may place a hold/request through the online catalog. If you have not already set up a PIN for your account you must do so first. Go to My Account and follow the directions for setting up your account PIN. Holds may be placed on all books (except reference books), videos, DVDs, and CDs.
What can I put on hold?
Holds can be placed on any circulating item that is owned by BPL with
the following exceptions: items that are reference only (LIB USE ONLY
status); items that belong to special collections such as Service to the
Aging, the Brooklyn Collection, Literacy Centers, the Kidsmobile and the
Bookmobile; items that belong to BPL locations that are closed for
renovation; and issues of magazines and journals. In addition, those
with a Juvenile Restricted card cannot place holds on any items other than
Juvenile (children's collection) materials.
How do I place a hold?
- One way is to go to the library catalog's Search page. From the search results, select the title by clicking directly on the name.
Once you see the full record, click on  Request. The next screen will
show you the title you're requesting and prompt you for your name,
library card barcode, PIN, a location to pick up the item and a "cancel
if not filled by" (expiration) date. Enter this information, click
"Submit" and wait for the confirmation screen.
 The second way is by logging into
"My Library Account." This method allows you to place multiple holds. Click on "Search the
Catalog." Follow the search instructions above. When you click on
Request, you will need to fill in only the location to pick up the item
and a "cancel if not filled by" (expiration) date. After you click on
"Submit" and see the confirmation screen, click on "Patron Record" to
return to your account. Then click on "Search the Catalog" to perform
another search without logging out of your account.
How do I know when to pick up a hold?
 We will notify you by email, text messaging, telephone or postal mail when it is time
to pick up a hold. Select your notice preference by logging into
"My Library Account"
and clicking on "Modify Personal Info."
I placed a hold but never received a pick-up notice. What happened?
Occasionally library users do not receive holds notices because of
incorrect information in their accounts. Please make sure that we have
your correct contact information.
If you chose to receive your holds notices by email, your email account
may be treating the BPL messages as electronic junk mail and
automatically sending them to a special bulk mail folder. If you have a
junk mail filter in your account, you should be able to enter BPL's
email address as a "safe" address so that our messages appear directly
in your Inbox. BPL sends its notices from
circadm@iii.BrooklynPublicLibrary.org.
If your information is correct, but you still have problems receiving
library notices, please visit any BPL location and speak with a staff member.
I received a notice saying that my hold could not be filled and I
should "consult a librarian." What does this mean?
Generally a holds cancellation notice is sent when the last copy of a requested item is determined MISSING. What this means is that when you placed the hold, the catalog showed that we owned at least one copy of the item. However, when it was searched for, it could not be found and its status was changed to MISSING. This triggers a holds cancellation
notice.
If you requested a book and it was the last copy in the BPL system, you can visit your local library and request an Interlibrary
Loan (ILL) for that title. BPL Interlibrary Loan policy allows you to request books only.
I have a Juvenile library card (ages 12 and under) and can't put some items on hold. Why not?
There are two kinds of Juvenile library cards: unrestricted and
restricted. Having a Juvenile Restricted card means that you can check
out and place holds only on Juvenile (children's) items. All Juvenile
materials have the letter 'J' at the beginning of the call number (J FIC
R, J VIDEO S, J 973.7 M, etc.).
If you have a Juvenile Restricted card and want to change it, you must
ask your parent or guardian for permission. Your parent or guardian must
then contact the library to make the change. When you turn 13, you will
have a Young Adult card, which has no restrictions.
How long will it take for my hold to arrive at my local library?
If your hold is the only hold on the item and BPL owns at least one
copy that isn't already borrowed (CHECK SHELVES status), the wait should
be one to two weeks.
(If you need the item within a day or two, it is best not to place a
hold. Search the BPL catalog and visit the neighborhood
library nearest you that has the item on its shelves. You can call
ahead to make sure that the item will be there for you when you visit.)
If there are already multiple holds and all copies are checked out, the
wait will be longer.
Why is there a limit of ten holds per person at any one time?
Because we have found ways to more efficiently fill holds were able to increase the number of holds from 5 to 10.
I borrowed an item that now is on hold for someone. I want to renew it, but your system is blocking me because of the hold. Why can't I
renew my copy?
Renewals are not permitted on titles that have holds on them. Once a
hold request is placed, our system blocks that title from being renewed
even if the catalog shows available copies at the libraries.
I placed a hold, and the "not needed after" (expiration) date is
about to pass without my hold being filled. I still want this item and I
don't want to lose my place in line, so can my hold expiration date be
extended?
The "not needed after" expiration date cannot be changed from "My Library Account." You can request a change using the "Write Us" form on our website, or visit any BPL location for assistance.
You also have the option of logging into
"My Library Account,"
canceling the hold, and then immediately replacing it with a later "not
needed after" expiration date. However, by canceling the original hold,
you will lose your place in line if there was more than one hold on the
item.
I placed a hold, and I see that the "not needed after" (expiration) date is about to pass. My item is now IN TRANSIT. Can the hold
expiration date be extended a few days while the item is on its way to
my local library?
There is no need to extend the "not needed after" (expiration) date
in this case. As long as your item is IN TRANSIT before the hold
expires, you will be notified when the item reaches your local library.
I received my hold pick-up notice, but I won't be able to pick up the item before the holdshelf period ends. Can my local library keep it for
an extra day or two?
It is library policy to keep requested items on holdshelves for 10 business days. Staff at all library locations run computer procedures daily that result in the clearing - both electronically and physically - of any materials that have been in ON HOLDSHELF status for more than 10 business days.
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