Has a friend recommended a specific book, or maybe you always read works by a particular author? Searching for the item you want has never been so easy.
As a member of Somerset Libraries, you can reserve up to 20 items. When the items arrive at your designated branch, you will be contacted via email or post for you to collect the items within 2 weeks.
There are two ways that you can reserve an item:
Login to our online catalogue and search for the item you want, either on the home screen or in the specific item format. When you have found the item you want, click ‘more details’, followed by the ‘reserve’ tab. Choose the branch you wish to collect from and hit the thumbs up to confirm your reservation.
Contact us or pop into your local branch and ask one of our staff who will happily place the reservation on your behalf. Please note, works by popular authors will automatically be purchased, and therefore, to ensure equitable access for all, are unable to be requested until they are released.
Would you like an item that isn’t currently in the library catalogue? Depending on the publication date of the item you can make a request for purchase or utilise our interlibrary loan service.
Suggest a Purchase
Provided the work has been published in the last two years you can suggest that Somerset Libraries acquire a copy. Should your request be approved, the item will be automatically reserved for you on arrival.
There are two ways that you can suggest a purchase:
Login to our online catalogue and navigate to ‘Suggestions’ in the top left corner. Fill in the accompanying purchase form with as much detail as possible.
Contact us or pop into your local branch and ask one of our staff who will happily place the suggestion on your behalf.
Please note, works by popular authors will automatically be purchased, and therefore, to ensure equitable access for all, are unable to be requested until they are released.
Interlibrary Loans
If the work was not published in the last two years our staff can attempt to acquire and reserve a copy for you through an interlibrary loan.
There are two ways that you can request an interlibrary loan:
Login to our online catalogue and navigate to ‘Suggestions’ in the top left corner. Toggle the page to ‘interlibrary loan’. Fill in the accompanying form with as much detail as possible.
Contact us or pop into your local branch and ask one of our staff who will happily place the request on your behalf.
Please note, at this time we are only able to request books on interlibrary loan.
Somerset Libraries seek to borrow items from libraries that do not charge for interlibrary loans. Every State Library outside of Queensland, the National Library of Australia, universities and specialist libraries charge up to $18.50 for interlibrary loans. An additional $10.00 postage fee may also be applied. Somerset library members can request to proceed or not proceed with loans from charging libraries. Once the item has been sent from the loaning library, charges are payable by the member even if the loan is cancelled or not collected. Other fees and charges may apply if an interlibrary loan item is lost or damaged.
