_______________________________
Items that are currently Available
If any copies of the title you want have the status "CHECK ON SHELF" or "Recently Returned", do not use the Catalog to place a hold. Please call the Reference Desk at (408) 730-7300, option 5 and a Reference Librarian will find and hold the item for you.
There is no charge to hold available items.
_______________________________
Items that are currently Checked Out
If the item you want is checked out to another user, you may place a hold on it:
- through the online catalog - Click on the "Place Hold" button near the top of the item information screen and follow the on-screen instructions.
- by coming in to the Library - Librarians at the Reference Desk will be glad to assist you in placing a reserve.
- by calling the Reference Desk - Have your Sunnyvale Public Library card ready, and librarians will be glad to assist you in placing your reserve.
Feature movies and magazines may not be reserved.
When you place a reserve, you will be notified that it is available to be picked up at the Library for up to a week. You may choose to be notified by telephone or e-mail.
You may update your own account to indicate which method you prefer and to update your contact information, or call the Circulation division at (408) 730-7300, option 3.
You may check your account online to see a list of items for which you've placed holds. Holds may be cancelled if you wish.
If you have questions about placing holds, please call the Reference Desk at (408) 730-7300.
_______________________________
Items the Library does not own
If the item you want is not in our collection or is missing or unavailable, you can try to obtain materials through the LINK+ service, which allows patrons to obtain materials from dozens of libraries across California, or by Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
The easiest way to access the LINK+ catalog is through our Sunnyvale Library catalog. Run your search normally through the online catalog. If the catalog does not find a match for your item, click on the LINK+ on the right side of the screen, and your original search will automatically run in the LINK+ system. If you do find the item you want in our catalog but it is unavailable, you can also click on the blue LINK+ button on the right side of the screen. You will be taken directly to the matching item in the LINK+ system.
Once you find the correct item in the LINK+ catalog, verify that the item is available for loan by clicking on the link that says "X number of LINK+ libraries own this item." You will see the status of all copies in all our partner libraries. Once you have verified that there are copies available for loan, click on the link that says "REQUEST THIS ITEM" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once you have successfully placed the request, you will receive pick-up notification in the same form as your regular library notices. See the above section for information on choosing or changing your notification preferences.
LINK+ requests typically take 3-4 business days to fulfill, although it can take longer especially during holiday periods. Contact the Circulation division to check the status of your request if it has been over a week.
There is NO CHARGE to make a LINK+ request, but the loan periods and fines are different. The item will be loaned for 3 weeks and can be renewed for an additional 2 weeks, if there are no requests at the owning library. Fines are $1.00 per day overdue and $115.00 for lost items.
If you cannot obtain the item you want through Link+, you may make an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. Please talk to a librarian at the Reference Desk for more information about placing requests through Interlibrary Loan.
_______________________________
Freeze Holds
Are you going on vacation?
Don't want to lose your place on the hold list?
Freeze your hold!
Freezing a hold allows you to maintain your place in the hold list while you are away. Patrons behind you in line will jump ahead until you unfreeze your hold, at which point you will move ahead normally. If you become first on the list, we will not fulfill your hold until you unfreeze, and then you will get the next available copy. You cannot freeze an item that is already awaiting pickup.
Follow these simple instructions to freeze holds:
- Log in to your account.
- Click on your list of holds. You will see a "Freeze" column on the far right side with a check box for each item you have on hold.
- Click the check box for each item you wish to "freeze".
- To apply the freeze, click the "Update List" button at the top of the list. Your frozen holds should change color and display a row of icicles.
IMPORTANT! When you are ready to receive holds again, you must unfreeze. To unfreeze, follow the same instructions as freezing, but this time, click in the check box to remove the check mark. When you click "Update List" you will see the color return to normal.
After you unfreeze a hold, check to see if copies of the item became available while you were away. If this is the case, call us and a Reference Librarian can immediately hold the item for you at no cost.