Placing and Managing Holds

You must have an MCPL library card and password to place holds. You will not be able to place holds if you owe $25 or more. See Paying Fees

How will I know when my hold is available?

When the item arrives at your chosen pick-up branch, you will receive a notice by text or by email. Standard text message rates from your service plan will apply for text notifications.

You will have 10 days to pick it up before it is removed from the hold shelf.

You can also check the status of your holds online from My Account in our catalog. If a hold is at your pick-up library for you, it is displayed as "Available."

Holds not picked up within 10 days

If an available hold is not picked up within 10 days, the item will be removed from the hold shelf. Cancel unneeded holds by using My Account online.

Maximum number of holds

You may have up to 100 hold requests for physical items (including interlibrary loan requests) on your account at one time.

Suspending, cancelling, or editing holds

You may want to suspend holds if you can't pick up items or use them during a particular time period. While your hold is suspended, you will continue to move up the hold queue, but the title will not become available for you.

Sign in to your account and you'll see choices to suspend holds, cancel the suspension, change pick-up branches, or cancel holds.

How long will it take to fill my hold if the title is available on a library shelf?

Library staff pull items to fill hold requests once a day. If you need a title immediately, you should call the branch that has it. A staff member will look for the item and either place it on the hold shelf or send it to another branch you choose. Transferring an available item between branches takes 3 to 5 days.

Holds on new entertainment DVDs

The library purchases many copies of each popular DVD title. Placing holds on these items is the same as placing a hold on any other item. You may have up to 100 hold requests (including interlibrary loan requests, books, DVDs, etc) on your account at one time.

I need help

Our librarians are happy to help you. Contact your branch or Ask-a-Librarian.