Holds

Reserve items and administer your holds using your BPL card and the Library Catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I place an item on hold using the online Catalogue?
How do I cancel a hold that I no longer need?
How do I suspend a hold, e.g. while I'm on vacation?
How do I re-activate a hold that has been suspended?
How do I know when my hold is available?
May I be alerted by e-mail when my holds are available?
How do I change the pickup location for my holds?
How do I check my hold pickup deadline?
How do I extend my hold expiration date?

How do I place an item on hold using the online Catalogue?

1. Login to your account. How to...
2. Once you have entered a Search, choose the result that most closely matches the item and format you are searching for.
3. Click on the Place Hold button beside the name of the item,
   OR
4. To see more information about the item before placing the hold, (e.g. summaries, subjects, copy locations, etc.) click on the Details button, then place the hold using the Place Hold link on the right side of the screen.
5. Choose your pick up location from the drop-down menu.
6. Click on the Place Hold button.
7. Click on OK to complete the hold.

How do I cancel a hold that I no longer need?

1. Login to your account and click on My Account in the menu area at the top of the screen.
2. Click on the Holds tab, and click in the box beside each hold you want to cancel.
3. Scroll down to Edit Selected Hold Options, click in the Cancel selected box.
4. Click on the Edit Selected Holds button.
5. You will see a confirmation that your hold has been cancelled.

How do I suspend a hold, e.g. while I'm on vacation?

1. Login to your account and click on My Account in the menu area at the top of the screen.
2. Click on the Holds tab, and click in the box beside each hold you want to suspend.
3. Scroll down to Activate or Suspend Selected Holds, click in the Suspend selected box.
4. Leave as Today or click on the small calendar icon that appears at the end of Suspension start date to select the date on which you wish the hold suspension to begin.
5. Repeat step #4 and set Suspension end date.
6. Leaving Never means the hold will be suspended until the hole expires.

How do I re-activate a hold that has been suspended?

1. Repeat the steps for suspending a hold (above) up to and including step #2.
2. Enter the word NEVER in capital letters in both Suspension start and Suspension end date and click on Edit Hold button,
   OR
3. Using the calendar icon, select today’s date as the start date, and tomorrow's date as the end date. Click the Activate Selected button. The suspension will be removed from the hold(s) at midnight and your hold(s) will become active the next day.

How do I know when my hold is available?

Our telephone notification system notifies our customers when their holds become available. Or you may choose to be notified via e-mail.

The telephone message identifies the name of the person for whom the item is being held, at what location it may be picked up, and will tell you that you have 5 business days to pick the item up. Note that the "5 business days" are counted from the time the hold arrives at the pickup location, not from the time you receive the call. It will NOT tell you when the 5 business days expire. To avoid disappointment, you may check your record online to see when your hold will expire. We recommend that you retrieve your holds at your earliest convenience once you have been notified. NOTE: Your hold pickup deadline cannot be adjusted.

May I be alerted by e-mail when my holds are available?

Yes! You may choose to be notified by e-mail about holds that are available for you. To sign up for this service, call or visit any of our library locations. At Central Library, call 905.639.3611, ext 127.

Advantages of e-mail notification:

• Your notice goes directly to your e-mail address.
• You will be given the title of the item(s) available.
• You will be provided with your pickup location and deadline.
• NOTE! If you do not pick up your hold by the expiry date, unfortunately there is no record kept of the hold you've missed. With e-mail notification, simply DO NOT DELETE your message until you have picked up the item. That way you can keep track of your holds.
• You will not receive telephone calls from our automated system.

You will also receive via e-mail:

• a due date reminder 2 days before your items are due
• reminders about items that are 7 and 28 days overdue,
• LOST charges for any items checked out to your library card 60 days or more past the due date.
• for more info...

Please do NOT reply to these e-mail notices.

How do I change the pickup location for my holds?

1. Connect to the Catalogue, and login using the boxes in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Click on My Account, then the Holds tab.
3. Under Edit Selected Hold Options, select the new location from the pickup at: drop-down menu, then click on Edit Selected Holds button
4. Click on the OK button to complete the change.

How do I check my hold pickup deadline?

• Connect to the Catalogue, and login using the boxes in the top right corner of the screen.
• Click on My Account, then the Holds tab.
• Normally the expiry date is the date that your request expires (one year after the hold is placed) but if your hold is available, the expiry date becomes your pickup deadline.

How do I extend my hold expiration date?

1. You will need to extend your hold expiration date if you placed your hold almost a year ago and it has not yet become available.
2. Login to your account and select  My Account.
3. Click on the Holds tab.
4. Click in the box beside each hold you want to edit.
5. Scroll down to Edit Selected Hold Options, click on the calendar icon and select a new expiry date.
6. Click on the Edit Selected Holds button.
7. You will see a confirmation that your expiry date has been changed.
8. Click OK.
9. NOTE! Any suspended holds will also expire as of the expiration date, will disappear from your record - and be untraceable.

Connect to the Catalogue

You can then look for books and other library materials. Use your library card and PIN number to check your library account, place holds, renew books, etc.

Updated December 2009

Home | Library Internet Policies | Change Text Size | Site Index

Copyright © 2009, Burlington Public Library, Ontario, Canada - Copyright & Disclaimer