Obtaining Materials

If your search results list displays a title you would like the library to obtain for you, you can place a request for the title and ask that it be held for you at a library location you select. Your library may also allow requests for specific copies of a title.

Your library may also offer interlibrary loans. If the title you want is not available in the library system, the library obtains it for you from another source outside the system. This is particularly useful when you have searched a site outside the library system. Your request provides the bibliographic information the library needs to borrow the title from an outside source (not necessarily the site you searched).

Notes:
-You need your barcode number (library card number) and password to request a title. For information about setting up a library account and obtaining a password, see "Setting Up a New Patron Account".
-Your library may limit the number of requests you can make, or may charge a fee.
-Interlibrary loans may take some time to obtain.

You can also purchase the title directly from a retail vendor online, if your library provides this feature.

This unit covers the following topics:

• "Request a title"
• "Request a specific copy of a title"
• "Purchase a title"

Objective: Request a title

Follow these steps to request any copy of a title listed in your search results. (For more information about launching a search and viewing the results, refer to "Basic Searching".)

Note:
-Each title in your search results list shows summary information about local availability, system availability, and the current number of hold requests for the title.
-You can view detailed local and system availability information for any title in your search results list by clicking Availability (see "Viewing Detailed Title Information").

1. Navigate the search results list to the title you want.
2. Click Place Request.

   The log-in form appears.

Note:
If your library allows a single log-in for your Polaris session, and you have already logged in, the log-in form does not appear. Go to step 4.

3. Type your barcode number (library account number) and password in the appropriate boxes, and click Log In.

   The request form appears.

4. Select, from the Pickup Library list, the name of the library where you want to pick up the requested item.
5. If you want to activate your request at a future time, type the date in the Activation Date box in the format mm/dd/year (for example,
   02/05/2005 for February 5, 2005).

   If you want your request to be active immediately, leave today's date in the Activation Date box.

6. If you want to add a note to your request, type the text in the Note box.
7. Click Submit Request.

   If other requests are active for the same title, the library may display a message that tells you how many requests have been placed before yours. You can choose to continue or cancel the request. If you click Continue, a message informs you that your request has been placed.

Note:
Your request may not be successful if your patron account is blocked or if the requested material does not circulate. A message is displayed if your request cannot be placed.

8. Click X to close the request form and return to the search results.

Important:
Protect your privacy. If you see in the menu bar, you are logged in. Be sure to click before you leave the computer.

Related Topics

You can review the status of your requests, and suspend, reactivate, or cancel them online. For more information, see "Managing Your Requests".

Objective: Request a specific copy of a title

Follow these steps to request a specific copy of a title, if your library provides this option. (For more information about launching a search and viewing the results, refer to "Basic Searching".)

1. Navigate the search results list to the title you want.
2. Display availability information for specific copies of the title by doing one of the following actions:
   • Click Local Availability to display item status for the location in the Currently logged into box.
   • Click System Availability to display item status for other libraries in the system.
3. Select the request icon next to the item you want to request.

   The log-in form appears.

Note:
If your library allows a single log-in for your Polaris session, and you have already logged in, the log-in form does not appear. Go to step 5.

4. Type your barcode number (library account number) and password in the appropriate boxes, and click Log In.

   The request form appears.

5. Select, from the Pickup Library list, the name of the library where you want to pick up the requested item.
6. If you want to activate your request at a future time, type the date in the Activation Date box in the format mm/dd/year (for example,
   02/05/2005 for February 5, 2005).

   If you want your request to be active immediately, leave today's date in the Activation Date box.

7. If you want to add a note to your request, type the text in the Note box.
8. Click Submit Request.

   If other requests are active for the same item, the library may display a message that tells you how many requests have been placed before yours. You can choose to continue or cancel the request. If you click Continue, a message informs you that your request has been placed.

Note:
Your request may not be successful if your patron account is blocked or if the requested material does not circulate. A message is displayed if your request cannot be placed. Also, a message may inform you that you cannot request a hold on a specific copy. For example, the item may be lost or may not circulate.

9. Click X to close the request form and return to the search results.

Important:
Protect your privacy. If you see in the menu bar, you are logged in. Be sure to click before you leave the computer.

Related Topics

You can review the status of your requests, and suspend, reactivate, or cancel them online. For more information, see "Managing Your Requests".

Objective: Purchase a title

Your library may allow you to purchase a title included in your search results from a retail vendor online. The library determines what vendors are accessible through the library site. Follow these steps to purchase a title listed in your search results.

Important:
The library does not control or maintain records about your purchase. The purchase transaction is between you and the vendor directly.

1. Navigate the search results list to display the title you want to purchase (see "Viewing Search Results").
2. Click Purchase by the title.

   The vendor's Web site is searched for the title, and the results are displayed on the Web site in a separate window.

3. Follow the vendor's instructions for purchases.

Note:
The library is not responsible for the vendor's site security.

4. When you have finished, close the vendor window by clicking X in the upper right corner of the window.

Important:
If you are working at a public computer, be sure to close the vendor's window when your transaction with the vendor is completed. Do not leave any transaction information visible at the computer.