Obtaining Materials

You can place a request for a title in your search results list and ask that the title be held for you at a library location you select. Your library may also allow requests for specific copies of a title. 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.

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). 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, and at some libraries a portion of your purchase may benefit the library.

This unit covers the following topics:

• "Request a title"
• "Request a specific copy of a title"
• "Purchase a title from a Web vendor"
• "Buy It Now"

Request a title

Follow these steps to request any copy of a title listed in your search results.

Tip:
To request your library's newest materials, check the dashboard area at the side of the page. You may see lists such as New Titles and On-Order Items. Click a title in a list to search for the title, then follow these steps to request it.

1. Navigate the search results list to the title you want.

   See "Viewing Title Information".

2. Click Place Request.

Note:
The Place Request button is not displayed for titles that are Web sites or electronic resources.

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,
   02/05/2007 for February 5, 2007).

   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 Return to search results to display your search results again.

Important:
Protect your privacy. If you see your name and a Log Out link at the top of the page, you are logged in. Be sure to click Log Out before you leave the computer.

Related Information

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

Request a specific copy of a title

Follow these steps to request a specific copy of a title, if your library provides this option.

1. Navigate the search results list to the title you want.
2. Click the title, the book jacket, or the Availability or Full Display button for a title in the search results list.
3. Click Availability if the list of locations is not already displayed.
4. Select the request icon next to the item you want to request.

Note:
If you cannot request a specific item, the request icon is not displayed for that item.

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 6.

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

   The request form appears.

6. Select, from the Pickup Library list, the name of the library where you want to pick up the requested item.
7. 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.

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

   A message ask you to confirm that you want this specific copy. If you do, click This item only. If you decide that any copy is acceptable, click First available copy.

   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, or the library may not allow requests for items available on the shelves for check-out.

Important:
Protect your privacy. If you see your name and a Log Out link at the top of the page, you are logged in. Be sure to click Log Out before you leave the computer.

Related Information

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

Purchase a title from a Web vendor

Using the Purchase link, you may be able to purchase a title in your search results from a retail vendor online, without leaving the library catalog. The library determines what vendor is accessible through the Purchase link. Follow these steps to purchase a title listed in your search results.

Note:
Instead of a Purchase link, you may see a Buy It Now link for certain titles in your search results. When you use Buy It Now, a portion of the sale is donated to the library. See "Buy It Now".

1. Navigate the search results list to display the title you want to purchase (see "Viewing Title Information").
2. Click the title, the book jacket, or the Availability or Full Display button for a title in the search results list.

   The information for the title expands.

3. Click Purchase in the list of options for the title.

   The vendor's Web site is searched for the title, and the Web site opens in a frame in the lower part of the page.

4. Follow the vendor's instructions for purchases.

Important:
The library does not control or maintain records about your purchase. The purchase transaction is between you and the vendor directly, and the library is not responsible for the vendor's site security.

5. When you have finished, click the link above the frame to return to your search results.

Important:
If you are working at a public computer, be sure to click the return to search results link to close the vendor's window. Do not leave any transaction information visible at the computer.

Buy It Now

You may see a Buy It Now link for certain titles in your search results. When you use Buy It Now, a portion of the sale is donated to the library. Follow these steps to buy a title listed in your search results and benefit the library.

Note:
Your library may also display a Shop Now link in the dashboard area at the side of the page. When you use this link, you can browse and search the library bookstore to find titles to purchase. A portion of the sale is donated to the library.

1. Navigate the search results list to display the title you want to purchase (see "Viewing Title Information").
2. Click the title, the book jacket, or the Availability or Full Display button for a title in the search results list.

   The information for the title expands.

3. Click Buy It Now in the list of options for the title.

Note:
If the title is not available in the online library bookstore, the link is not displayed.

The library bookstore site opens in a frame in the lower part of the page. Your title is displayed.

4. Follow the bookstore's instructions for purchases.
5. When you have finished, click the link above the frame to return to your search results.

Important:
If you are working at a public computer, be sure to click the return to search results link to close the bookstore window. Do not leave any transaction information visible at the computer.