Reserving an Item
Find out how to reserve an item, how much it costs, how to change or cancel a reservation and how to find out when your items are ready for collection. Also, find out how to request an item not in stock.
How to reserve an item
If you've found an item on the library catalogue that you would like to borrow, you can reserve it online for collection at your local library. You can reserve the item even if it's currently out on loan.
To reserve an item:
Uncollected Reservations
Once you have received notification that your item is ready to collect, you will have one week (including Saturdays and amended to reflect any upcoming Bank Holidays) to pick up your reserved item. You can see if the item is ready for collection and the date to collect by on our library app.
If you do not collect your reservation before the end of the collection period, your reservation will be removed from your account and returned to library circulation.
Should you then wish to re-reserve an uncollected item, you can place another reservation for the same item on the website or ask a member of staff at your local library.
Reservations Charges
Reservation charges may apply when reserving an item, even if the item is available in your home branch. When requesting a book not in stock within West Sussex Libraries, you will be asked if you are willing to pay a supplementary charge to borrow the book from another authority or institution.
Charges:
Per item if in stock £0.75
Per item, if not in stock: £1.00
Supplementary charge for items supplied from the British Library and other institutions £12.50 (total charge £13.50)
Supplementary charge for items supplied from public library authorities outside West Sussex £7.75 (total charge £8.75)
Please note that there are no reservation charges for the following items, if in stock:
To freeze a reservation
You can freeze (pause) a reservation if an item is not yet available and you wish to receive it at a later date. For example, if you wish to receive the item after you have come back from holiday.
To cancel a reservation
Request items we don't stock
Before you ask us to buy an item, please check the library catalogue to check that it's not already in stock.
You will be charged the standard reservation charge (as above) and may be asked to pay an additional charge if the item is available at another authority or institution.
You can request a book using our online form or ask staff in your local library to request it for you.
If you request an item, you will be notified regarding whether the item will be added to our stock. If the item is added, you will have a reservation added to your account once the item is available on our catalogue.
Request a periodical article
You can request periodical articles for private study or research only. We will provide black and white copies and you will need to sign a consent form when you collect them.
You will be charged the standard reservation charge (as above) and may have to pay an additional charge depending on the location of the item.
You can request a periodical article using our online form or ask staff in your local library to request it for you.
Tell us about a stock gap
We are happy to consider buying material in specific stock areas if you identify a gap in our collections.
This is not a substitute for requesting a specific title; if you want to personally receive a copy, complete the forms above.
Gaps identified will not be responded to on an individual basis. We will provide a list of items we have purchased in response to suggestions, which will be displayed below when available.
If you wish to notify us of a stock gap, please email: bibliographicalservices.library@westsussex.gov.uk. Add 'Tell us about a stock gap' in the subject line. You can also make suggestions directly when visiting your local library.
If you've found an item on the library catalogue that you would like to borrow, you can reserve it online for collection at your local library. You can reserve the item even if it's currently out on loan.
To reserve an item:
- Sign in to your library account. To sign in to your library account, please select ‘Sign In’ on the top right of the screen or sign in via this link
- Search our catalogue for the item you would like to reserve.
- Select the 'Place Reservation' button next to the item that you would like to reserve.
- A message will appear listing the default pick up branch (library). If you want to change your pick up branch, select the down arrow to choose another library. If you want to change your default branch, you can ask staff in your local library to do this for you.
- If you're happy with the reservation charge and pick-up branch displayed, select 'Submit Hold Request'. A message will display: 'Your hold was placed successfully'.
- When your reservation is ready for collection, you will receive an email or a phone call, depending on which method of notification you chose when you joined the library.
Uncollected Reservations
Once you have received notification that your item is ready to collect, you will have one week (including Saturdays and amended to reflect any upcoming Bank Holidays) to pick up your reserved item. You can see if the item is ready for collection and the date to collect by on our library app.
If you do not collect your reservation before the end of the collection period, your reservation will be removed from your account and returned to library circulation.
Should you then wish to re-reserve an uncollected item, you can place another reservation for the same item on the website or ask a member of staff at your local library.
Reservations Charges
Reservation charges may apply when reserving an item, even if the item is available in your home branch. When requesting a book not in stock within West Sussex Libraries, you will be asked if you are willing to pay a supplementary charge to borrow the book from another authority or institution.
Charges:
Per item if in stock £0.75
Per item, if not in stock: £1.00
Supplementary charge for items supplied from the British Library and other institutions £12.50 (total charge £13.50)
Supplementary charge for items supplied from public library authorities outside West Sussex £7.75 (total charge £8.75)
Please note that there are no reservation charges for the following items, if in stock:
- audio items
- children's items
- books requested by 13 - 17-year-olds
- large print books
- music CDs
- non-fiction books
- items held in the County Store
For more details, please see our information about library charges.
To freeze a reservation
You can freeze (pause) a reservation if an item is not yet available and you wish to receive it at a later date. For example, if you wish to receive the item after you have come back from holiday.
- Sign In with your library card number and PIN.
- Select 'My Account', then ‘My Reservations'.
- Select 'Freeze Reservation' next to the title you would like to pause the reservation on.
- A message will appear asking you which date you would like the reservation to be frozen until.
- The reservation can be taken off pause earlier than the set date by selecting 'Thaw Reservation'.
To cancel a reservation
- Reservations can be cancelled online, but any charges outstanding can only be removed from your account by staff in a library.
- Sign In with your library card number and PIN.
- Select 'My Account', then ‘My Reservations'.
- Find the item that you want to cancel. Select the 'Cancel Reservation' box next to the reservation.
- A message will appear asking you to confirm cancellation.
- A second message will display 'Your hold was successfully cancelled'.
Request items we don't stock
Before you ask us to buy an item, please check the library catalogue to check that it's not already in stock.
You will be charged the standard reservation charge (as above) and may be asked to pay an additional charge if the item is available at another authority or institution.
You can request a book using our online form or ask staff in your local library to request it for you.
If you request an item, you will be notified regarding whether the item will be added to our stock. If the item is added, you will have a reservation added to your account once the item is available on our catalogue.
Request a periodical article
You can request periodical articles for private study or research only. We will provide black and white copies and you will need to sign a consent form when you collect them.
You will be charged the standard reservation charge (as above) and may have to pay an additional charge depending on the location of the item.
You can request a periodical article using our online form or ask staff in your local library to request it for you.
Tell us about a stock gap
We are happy to consider buying material in specific stock areas if you identify a gap in our collections.
This is not a substitute for requesting a specific title; if you want to personally receive a copy, complete the forms above.
Gaps identified will not be responded to on an individual basis. We will provide a list of items we have purchased in response to suggestions, which will be displayed below when available.
If you wish to notify us of a stock gap, please email: bibliographicalservices.library@westsussex.gov.uk. Add 'Tell us about a stock gap' in the subject line. You can also make suggestions directly when visiting your local library.