Placing Holds FAQs

  • General Questions

    If the item is currently available, it will be pulled off the shelf and set aside for you to pick up. If the item is currently checked out or unavailable, you will be added to the holds queue. You will receive a notification when it is ready for pickup.

    You can place holds yourself on the library's website. Alternatively, you can contact us and we can place holds for you.

    You may place 100 items on hold at one time. (Policies may differ for digital items and items requested from other libraries.)

    Depending on your account preferences, you will receive a courtesy email or text message. You may also log into your online account at any time to check on the status of your hold.

    You will have 4 days to check out the item. If you do not pick up the item within 4 days, the item will be removed from the holdshelf or passed on to the next person on the waitlist. (Policies may differ for school deliveries, home deliveries, digital items, and items borrowed from other libraries.)

    If you are unable to pick up an item within 4 days, contact us for additional options.

    When you place a hold, you will be prompted to choose a pickup location.

    Your options are as follows:

    • Uptown Drive-Thru (on the north side of the library at 126 S. State St., or via the indoor pickup window)
    • Uptown Lockers (in the covered parking area at 126 S. State St.)
    • Uptown Self-Serve (inside near the Welcome Desk)
    • Blendon Hempstead Lockers (near the entrance to the Blendon Township Community Senior Center at 6330 S. Hempstead Rd.)
    • Outreach (only available to those eligible for home deliveries)
    • Students... (only available to those eligible for school deliveries)

    There are a few possible reasons why you are unable to place holds.

    If there is no button to place a hold...

    • The item was borrowed some time ago and has not yet been returned.
    • We may not own the item.
    • The item may be an “electronic resource," which means that it is accessible through the Internet. Follow the link provided in the record to view or download the item.
    • It may be “non-circulating.” This means that the item is not allowed to leave the library.

    If you see the message: “Please see a librarian"...your account may be blocked.

    Going on vacation? Trying to read a book series in order?

    You have the option to "Pause" your requests while you are out of town or waiting for the next title in a series. This means that your position on the waitlist for an item is skipped over until you choose to "Resume hold". Get step-by-step instructions.

    Note: Items that are ready for pickup cannot before paused. For additional options, contact us.

    Yes, with some limitations. Check with staff at the neighboring library for details.

    You have priority when placing holds on items owned by the Westerville Public Library. If you place a hold on an item owned by another library, the owning library’s patrons will receive priority over you.  

    For detailed instructions, watch this video:

    A description about how this service works can be found here.

    To discover new items as soon as they've been ordered, choose Advanced Search, then select On Order. From the results screen, sort by Date Acquired. The newest items that have been ordered will appear at the top of the list.