Reserving library books and items

If you are looking for something that isn't in your local library, our reservations and requests service will try to find it for you. Whether it's a book, talking book, language course, newspaper, journal or magazine article we will try to get it for you to borrow if we can.

If we have items already in stock within any of our libraries, these can be reserved free of charge and we will send to your local library for you to collect.

If we do not have the item in our stock you can submit a request and we might get it for your library. If this is not possible we may be able to borrow it on your behalf from another library in the UK using our inter-library loan system. There is a charge of £5.50 for this service.

How to reserve an item

Items can be reserved or requested by visiting your library branch in person and asking a member of staff.

You can also reserve an item in stock via the web using the online catalogue

You need to be a library member and have your borrower number (found on the back of your membership card) and PIN. If you don't know your PIN you can visit any library, present your library membership card and request it.

When your reservation arrives at your local library

We send a reservation notice by email or text to let you know that your item is ready for collection. If you do not supply either an email address or a mobile/landline telephone number please be aware that we do not send postal reservation notices.