Borrow, Reserve and Request

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Did you know you can reserve books online? Even if you can't find a book in our catalogue you can suggest future purchases to us.

Below you will find information on how to make reservations, borrow books from other libraries, and suggest an item for us to purchase and add to our catalogue. 

Reservations

Items that are out on loan or available at our other branches can be requested at no charge. Make reservations in person at any of our libraries, or online:

1. SIGN IN

Use your library card number and PIN to sign in to our Library Catalogue. 

2. SEARCH

Search for the item of your choice and click on the title to view the full item record.

3. RESERVE

Click 'Place Reservation' and complete the form, including your preferred location from which to collect the item. 

4. COLLECT

Depending on your notification settings (you may change these at any time in person at any of our libraries), you will be notified via text message, email or letter, as soon as the item becomes available for you to collect. If requested items are not collected within 10 days of being allocated to you, they will be returned to the shelves for other members to borrow.

Suggest a Purchase

Books and other materials may be recommended for purchase if they are not held by Fairfield City Open Libraries. While we value your suggestions, we do not purchase every title or item requested.

Search our Library Catalogue first to confirm that your suggested item is not already held in our collection.

How do I suggest an item for purchase?

There are two ways in which you can suggest a purchase:

  • Online - via Fairfield City Libraries website. Complete and submit an online Suggest a Purchase form
  • In person - by visiting a Fairfield City Open Library where library staff can assist you to place a request

What information is required?

To complete the online Suggest a Purchase form, enter the following details:

  • Library card number
  • PIN
  • Title of the item, and if known, other information such as author and publication date
  • Type of item i.e. book, DVD

What can I suggest to purchase?

Fairfield City Open Libraries will consider items which:

  • Are available for purchase through our suppliers
  • Are suitable for a public library
  • Have been published in the last 3 years or are part of a popular series. DVD suggestions will be accepted only after they have been released for sale in Australia

Magazine titles are assessed annually and suggested titles will be considered as part of this process.

Unfortunately we are unable to supply DVDs in languages other than English.

eBooks and eAudiobooks can be suggested for purchase through our Cloud Library. Use the filter "Suggest for library."

How will I know if my suggestion is purchased?

When the item is purchased, a reservation will be placed or in the case of eBooks you will be notified by email..

Inter-Library Loans

If an item is not available at any of our libraries, we will try to borrow the item you want from another library service.

Through our Inter-Library loans you can request anything from books, magazines to DVDs. Some items may not be available and we have no control over what other libraries are willing to lend to us.

1. SERVICE CONDITIONS

  • You can borrow the item for our usual loan period (21 days). You may renew the item but that's at the discretion of the lending library, so please contact us before the due date.
  • The library is unable to fulfill inter-library loan requests for recently published items. Please consider placing a purchase suggestion.

2. SEARCH

Check our Library Catalogue to confirm that the item is not held in our collection.

3. REQUEST

Sign in to your Library account using your library card number and PIN, and place the request online or in person at any of our Fairfield City Open Libraries location.

4. PAY

All Inter-Library loan requests incur a non-refundable charge of $3.00, payable at the time of making the request.

An additional minimum charge may apply for items held by University, TAFE and special libraries. A member of our Collections team will advise you in the event that this additional charge may apply.

5. CONFIRM

A member of our Collections team will make the request on your behalf:

  • Verify the details of the item.
  • Identify libraries that hold the item and place a request to borrow the item on your behalf.
  • Contact you if there are any problems with your request or if the item is not obtainable.

6. COLLECT

You will be notified when the item is awaiting collection. Requests for inter-library loans may take 2-4 weeks so please allow time for your item to arrive. You can borrow the item for our usual loan period (21 days) and you may also renew the item, but please contact us before the due date. In the case where an inter-library loan item is lost or damaged, you will have to pay the item cost and administration fee the owning library charges. 

 

   

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