Suggest a Title

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If the library doesn't currently own a title you want to borrow, you can ask us to consider adding it to our collection by completing the form below. We will carefully consider suggestions received within our annual collections development plan and attempt to fill your request.

When titles are considered for purchase, suggestions from BPL cardholders are prioritized over those from members of libraries in Halton Region and Hamilton. We do not accept requests for digital titles from members of our OverDrive partner libraries. 

If you are a local author or illustrator and would like us to consider your book for our collection, please complete our Local Author Application Form. 

Personal information is collected in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990, and Canada Anti-Spam Legislation and used to assist with answering queries.

Before You Submit the Form

Please check the catalogue first to see if we have the title in our collection, and read the information below. Do not use this form to place holds on items in our catalogue.

Popular & Bestselling Items

We automatically acquire trending and bestselling items in all available formats, so do not submit requests for these titles.

Pre-Release Items

For titles that will be released more than three months from today, do not submit a request. These requests will not be tracked or maintained. Please submit the Suggest A Title form within three months of the titles availability.

Movies & DVDs

Movies and TV series offered on paid streaming services are not available on DVD or BluRay, so do not submit requests for these items.

DVDs and Blu-ray titles can’t be ordered until a release date is available. Most blockbuster and popular movies are ordered weeks before their release date, and holds may be placed at that time. We do not keep requests for a DVD without a release date on file.

Microfilm

Please email your request to selectors@bpl.on.ca for microfilm from the Archives of Ontario.

Interlibrary Loan Service (ILL)

BPL may borrow an item that qualifies for Interlibrary Loan service from another library instead of buying it for our collection. You must have a BPL library card number to be eligible for BPL’s ILL service. BPL cardholders are eligible for three interlibrary loans a month.

  • Print only; no audiovisual (DVD, Blu-ray, CD) or electronic items.
  • Items must be from other Ontario Libraries.
  • Requested titles must be at least 2 years old.
  • The title is not in our BPL collection.
  • The title is not in the Kilbride or Hayden school library collections or at libraries where BPL cardholders have reciprocal borrowing privileges (Hamilton, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills)
  • ILL items are loaned for 21 days and are not renewable.

Next Steps

For various reasons, including budget, we do not purchase every title that is suggested. For more information, please read our Collection Development Policy. If we are unable to purchase the item, we will do our best to contact you. If the title is purchased, a hold will be placed for you. You may not be first on the holds list since we often receive multiple suggestions for the same title. If the item is acquired through ILL, you can monitor its status in your MyBPL account under My Borrowing > ILL Requests.

If your contact information is up to date in your library account, you will be notified when the new or ILL item is available for pick-up at your preferred location.

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