Library reservations
You can reserve up to 20 titles on your library card. This includes both new reservations and titles you've already requested.
The reservation process is the same as before, but involves fewer screens – add titles to your reservation basket, choose where to collect them, and place your reservation.
Step 1 – selecting titles to reserve
First, find the title you want on the library catalogue.
Then click the ‘Add to reservation basket' button, either on your search results or on the title information screen.
A ‘Reserve' button appears below your basket in the right-hand column of every screen.
Carry on searching the catalogue to add more titles to your basket.
Step 2 – go to the reservation basket
After you've added all the titles you want to your basket, just click the 'Reserve' button and follow the on-screen instructions.
- If you haven't signed in yet, you'll go to the sign in screen first. Use your library card number and PIN to sign in and reserve all your titles in one go.
- If you've already signed in, you'll go straight to the reservation basket.
Step 3 – completing your reservation
- Check the titles in your basket and tick the titles you want to reserve – you can add or delete titles for 20 minutes. If you don't use the E-library for longer than this, your basket will be emptied and you will need to start again.
- Choose where to collect your reservation from the list of libraries.
- Choose the way we tell you that your reservations are ready to collect – email will arrive quicker than post.
- Carefully check the titles, collection library and contact method before clicking the 'Reserve selected titles' or 'Reserve all' button, as the reservation charge will be added to your account at this stage and cannot be refunded.
Why can't I reserve a title?
Add to reservation basket
The ‘Add to reservation basket' button may not appear if the title you found can't be reserved online.
Checking the reservation basket
Sometimes the reservation basket tells you that you can't reserve some of the titles you selected. This is because:
- you've already reserved or borrowed the title
- you're trying to reserve more than 20 titles
- there is a problem with your library card, such as you owe over £25 or your loans are very overdue
- there are no copies you can reserve at this time (see below for reasons).
Reasons you can't reserve titles
You can't reserve titles if they are:
- reference books – shown as 'not for loan'
- new films – DVDs are 'not reservable' until they are three months old
- special collections – reading group books, sets of scores and plays can only be reserved by asking staff at your local library
- missing or damaged
- unavailable during refurbishment work at a library
- held at a library usually closed to the public, such as our Equal Access Library.
Titles not on the E-library catalogue
Suggest books, films or CDs to add to our libraries using our library comments form.
Fill in a reservation card at your local library to:
- request new titles before they are published – we will consider buying them in line with our Stock Policy.
- ask us to try obtaining specialist items using the national inter-library loan system – this may involve an extra reservation charge.
Reservation charges
You may be charged a small fee for reserving titles. This is payable on your next visit to the library. If your account is over £5, you can also pay by credit card over the phone. See our fees and charges.
We regret this charge is non-refundable even if the title is not available, if you don't collect it, or if you cancel the reservation.
Collecting your reservation
We will tell you by email or post when your reserved title is ready to collect.
To check the progress of your reservations, change your contact method, or make sure your postal address is correct, please sign in to the E-library.
Cancelling a reservation
You can cancel reservations in the ‘Reservations' section of member services. You will still have to pay the reservation charge – sign in to the E-library.
If you change your mind about a title you reserved that isn't on our catalogue, please contact your local library.
Contact us
For help with reservations, you can:
