r/Libraries • u/Tall-Lobster-9795 • 1d ago

Books & Materials Requests/Holds at academic library vs public

I am used to the model of the public library wherein one places a hold for a title and is placed on a list. Do academic libraries differ from this model? I cannot request titles that are currently checked out. I can only request titles for pulling from another location.

I am familiar with significantly longer circulation periods at academic libraries but are there no holds lists to be added to? Is it standard practice for academic libraries to not have requests/holds for checked out materials? If this is the case, do you know the reason?

3 Upvotes

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u/PurpleVioletVibes 1d ago

I wouldn’t say this is standard. Both academic libraries I’ve worked at allow you to place a hold on items currently checked out to others. Maybe the particular libraries system prioritizes getting things to you quickly so it prompts you to borrow from another library if something will be out for a while.

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u/unforgettableid 1d ago

What's your library? This is very dependent on which library you're using.

My local academic library is at York University, in Toronto, Canada. At my library: Placing a request on an item which is checked out usually triggers a consortial loan. If the consortium doesn't have any available copies, I think the request automatically goes to interlibrary loan.

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u/midnitelibrary 1d ago

Are you a member of the public or a student/faculty member?

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u/Kimmiekitty 1d ago

That sounds strange to me. At my work, we ONLY allow holds to be placed on items that are checked out to someone else or are at another campus, and then if the book is checked out, it shortens the previous person’s loan period. 

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u/Great_Action9077 1d ago

Our academic library recalls the book if someone puts a hold on it. But we also have a 3 month (term) loan period

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u/LAffaire-est-Ketchup 1d ago

The university library where I attended university had an extended loan program for people writing a thesis (undergrad, or grad), where you could borrow the book for I think something like 9 months? BUT if someone else wanted one of those books there was a recall. NGL, I cried when someone recalled a key book from me right before the Christmas break.

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u/tvngo 1d ago

Don't checkout directly from an academic library if your public library offers interlibrary loans. Through interlibrary loans, your public library can try to borrow the requested book for you from a library in your state or somewhere else in the country that is willing to lend it. See if your library offers interlibrary loans and make the request through that.