How Do I...?
Place a Hold on Materials
All Chicago Public Library card-holders can place a hold (reserve) on any available item within the Chicago Public Library system. Hold items will be delivered to the library branch selected while placing the hold. Patrons may visit any library location for assistance in placing or cancelling holds.
To place a hold using the online catalog:
- Find the item in the catalog
- Click the blue "Place on Hold" button* to the right.
- You will be prompted to log in to your My CPL account.
- Select the library where you would like your hold item sent.
- Email notification will be sent when the item is available for pickup (if an email address is included in a My CPL account) or by phone or by U.S. mail.
*In the Kids' Catalog, the hold button is named "Click here to Order it" and is located to the left.
If you would like to place a hold on an individual volume, edition or year, please call or visit any library location.
Each card-holder can have up to five holds pending at any one time. This does not include hold requests that are in transit or ready for pickup. All hold transactions will be counted as part of the thirty-transaction limit allowed on your library account.
To cancel a hold online:
- Log in to your My CPL account.
- Click on Holds
- Find the hold you want to cancel; if the hold status reads "Request pending" you may click the Remove button to cancel your hold.
- If the hold status is "In-transit" or "Ready for pickup" you must contact the pickup location to finish canceling the hold.