What can I do if I can't find what I want in the library?
North East Lincolnshire Library Services run a reservation service. If you are looking for a particular book but it is not in the library, we will try to find the book for you.
If it is in the library catalogue it can be reserved and sent to the library of your choice to collect. You can either do this yourself by using the online catalogue or by visiting any library where staff can do it for you.
What if the book is not in stock?
If we do not have the book in any of the libraries, we will check that it is still in print and consider it for purchase. We will only buy books to satisfy requests if they would be useful additions to the stock of the library in accordance with our Stock Policy.
What happens if the book is not in print?
If the book you want is not in print or it is not suitable for purchase, we will ask you whether you want us to try to borrow it for you from another library. We will then search for the book in:
What happens if someone else borrowed the book I want?
If the book you want is on loan to someone else, we will "trap" the book on the computer system. This means that they will not be able to renew the book and will be sent a letter if the book becomes overdue, telling them that another reader wants to borrow it.
How long will it take for my book to arrive?
If the book is in stock in the library we will attempt to get it for you within 30 working days. If there is a waiting list for the book, you will be added to the list and we will tell you that other readers have requested the book before you.
If the book is not in stock, we will try to get it to you within 60 working days.
If there is a problem with your request and it looks like taking longer than the 30 or 60 days, we will let you know and offer you other options.
What does it cost?
We do have to make a charge for the reservation system. This can be found in our Fees and Charges page. The charge is a contribution to the administration costs of the request service. If we have to get the book from the British Library or another library in the UK or overseas, we will ask you to pay an extra fee to help us cover our costs.
You pay the charge when you collect the book. This means that if we cannot get the book for you for any reason, you have not lost any money.
Can I request CD's and Videos?
You can put in requests for CD's, Videos and Cassettes. However, if they are not in stock we will not necessarily buy them to satisfy your request. As it is very rare that we can borrow music and videos from other libraries outside the Prism authorities, so unfortunately we may have to cancel your request.