Boston Public Library
Requesting Material

Borrowing and Circulating Information

Placing a request online is easy using the Boston Public Library catalog. You must have a valid library card and a PIN to place requests.

Follow these instructions to place your hold request.

You may choose to have a pick-up location of Copley or any Boston Public Library branch. When the item you have requested becomes available, you will be sent a notice by phone or email, depending on how you have requested this service. If you wish to place requests for material that the Boston Public Library does not own, please see a librarian at any of our locations or call (617) 536-5400.

Material from our research collections cannot be checked out and must be used in the building. If you wish to use research material, fill out a request form (available in all Research Library departments) and take it to the Delivery Desk. You must have a valid library card to use material in our research collections.

Materials are generally delivered to you within 15-30 minutes after you have submitted the request form, unless the item is in remote storage. If you wish to place requests for material that the Boston Public Library does not own, please see a librarian or use the "suggest a purchase" form on our online catalog.

Please see this chart regarding requesting material from Metro-Boston Library Network Members.