Answered By: Elaine M. Patton
Last Updated: Aug 25, 2022     Views: 96

Use the library catalog to find and request materials (whether it's a book, CD, or DVD) to borrow, which can come from other LSC campuses or the Harris County or Montgomery County public libraries.

How to Request

  1. Click the button that says "Place Hold" to the right side of the page for each search result. 
    Screenshot of search results in the catalog. Arrows are pointing out the "Place Hold" buttons that are to the right of each result's info (including book cover, title, author, year, and format). Down the left side of the page are options to filter your results; highlighted at the very top of this column is the button to only show currently-available items in the results.
    If you need to make sure an item will be available soon, filter your search results by clicking the "Only Show Available" button on top of the search limiter options on the left side of the page.

     
  2. A pop-up window will ask you to log in to your library account (assuming you weren't already), which requires your library barcode and 4-digit PIN. You can confirm or change your pick-up location (it will default to your home campus).

     
  3. You will get an email from the library when one of your items is available for pick-up. You will have 10 days to claim your hold items from that point; after that, they'll be sent back if unclaimed.

 

More Info on Checking Item Availability:

Wait Times for Holds

You can also check an item's availability by clicking on the book/etc title to view more details. After the summary and subject terms, there's a line for "Holds" (i.e. how many other people have requests for this item). The bottom half of the screen will show you how many total copies there are in the system and whether each one is currently checked in (it will show a shelf location, if so) or are otherwise unavailable. If it all looks good, you can click "Place Hold" in the upper-right cluster of buttons.  You can request books that already have holds -- you'll just be waiting for the other people ahead of you to get it first.

Screenshot of the detailed page for a single title. The "place hold" button is still at the right, but now comes after a "Select an Action" button. The book details end with a line for Holds info. After that is a table displaying how many copies exist, their locations, and their statuses.

 

Non-Circulating Items

Some items in the catalog cannot be transferred between campuses or otherwise reserved/placed on hold. If you "reserve" or "reference," the system won't let you make the request. You can use the items only if you visit the library that has them.

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