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Request an Item

Request an item for our collection

Suggest a book or item you’d like us to buy

Please note:

  • We are more likely to be able to source books from the last 3 years, and CDs/DVDs released in the past year.
  • We automatically buy new titles by popular fiction authors and most New Zealand writers. You can place a hold when the title appears in the catalogue.
  • If you already have 15 holds, we won’t place a new one. We recommend noting your request and placing a hold once you have fewer holds.
  • If we don't buy your suggested item, you can use interlibrary loan (fees apply).
  • Our Content Development Policy guides what we buy for the collection.

Request an Item / Suggest to buy

FAQ

    • Please note that some titles may not be available through Libby / OverDrive due to licensing restrictions specific to the Australasian region. These limitations are set by publishers and Libby / OverDrive.
    • Standard processing of suggestions to buy typically takes up to 14 days.
    • If the item is purchased, it may take 1 to 2 days to appear in Libby / OverDrive.
    • We can’t place holds on eBooks or eAudiobooks, so please check Libby / OverDrive periodically to see whether the item has been added to our collection.

    • Standard processing of suggestions to buy typically takes up to 14 days. If we’re able to obtain a copy, we’ll place a hold on it for you. If we’re not able to fulfil the request, we’ll let you know.
    • Items may take 3 to 6 months to arrive from overseas.
    • If the item is a new release by a popular author on our standing order list, we can’t process a purchase request or place a hold. These titles are automatically added to our collection closer to the publication date.

  • You place holds on items you want to borrow from search results, or from the sidebar on the left of a title’s details page. If you want to pick up the item at a specific location, you can see which branches currently have the item, as well as the circulation status of all available copies. There is a limit of 15 holds on your card. 

    ► To place a hold from search results

    1. Enter some keywords and run your search.
    2. Find the title you want.
    3. Titles with at least one copy in the library show Available. To see the current status of all copies of the item, click the availability details link.
    4. Click the Place a Hold link.
    5. In the Place a Hold popup, select the branch where you’d like to pick up the title. The default is the location is your home branch, or the one you specified on your Preferences page as your preferred location. (If your library has only one location, you won’t see this option.)
    6. Click the Confirm button.

    Your requested title will now appear on your Holds page.

    ► To place a hold from a title’s details page

    1. Find the title you’d like to place a hold on by searching or browsing the catalogue. Go to its details page by clicking its title.
    2. The total number of copies and number currently available is shown. To see the location and current status of each available copy of a title, click the View Availability Details link.
    3. On the left sidebar of the title’s details page, click the Place a Hold button.
    4. Select the branch where you’d like to pick up the title. The default is the location is your home branch, or the one you specified on your Preferences page as your preferred location. (If your library has only one location, you won’t see this option.)
    5. Click the Confirm button.

    Your requested title will now appear on your Holds page.

    Notes: If you need an item in a hurry, use the On the shelves now at dropdown list to view locations that have copies available.

    Some items, such as reference book or documents on microfiche, cannot be placed on hold. Inquire about these at the Reference Desk at your branch.

    Some popular titles may not always be available as quickly as you’d like. Discover new works by exploring the recommendations, comments and tags submitted by other library members.

  • From the Holds page, you’re able to keep track of the titles you’ve requested, and where and when they will be available for pickup. By default, items on the page are sorted by hold position, with items ready for pickup first. If you prefer, you can sort the page by status, title, author or format.

    You can also cancel and suspend your hold requests. To change the status of a request, use the checkbox next to each title, and then click the appropriate button. Cancelled and suspended holds are each shown on separate pages. You can activate suspended holds from the Suspended page.

    The status of items ready for pickup are shown in green. Items not yet available are shown in red.

    Note: Use this page to manage holds. To place a hold, do a search, or view a title’s details page. See below.

    The content on the Holds page is visible only to you. Please consult our Privacy Policy to learn more about how your private information is protected. There’s a link to the Privacy Policy at the bottom of every page.

  • Yes, you are welcome to suggest a title you would like to see through our request an item form.

    In Libby you can find titles that are not available in the collection and use a "Notify Me" smart tag to express your interest.

    If a title you've tagged with your "Notify Me" smart tag is purchased, you'll get a notification and have the option to borrow it or place it on hold right away.

    Not all titles are available through our eBook collections, and not all titles that are recommended or tagged with Notify Me will be added.

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