Reserving & Requesting Books

If the book or article you are looking for is not at hand in your library branch, don't give up. In most cases, you can use a Hold Request or an Interlibrary Loan Request to get the item delivered to your branch.  Zip Books add to your options for getting an older book. For new books, you can make a purchase suggestion. More about all of these choices below!

At any one time, you may have a total of four (4) Hold Requests, plus a total of four (4) Interlibrary Loan Requests, including one (1) Zip Book.

To Library Home Page

The library logo - framed by a book, a mighty redwood stands by water and hills.

Hold Requests & Interlibrary Loans



  1. Your first step is to check the library's catalog, or check with a librarian, to see if the item you want is available anywhere in the Humboldt County Library System.
  2. If you can see that the item you want is in the catalog, and the library has a copy, you can place a free hold request. Holds may be placed on movies, audiobooks, or music as well as books.
  3. If our library system does not own the book you want, and at least 12 months have passed since it was first published, you may place an Interlibrary Loan request. The library will borrow a book or article for you from another library system somewhere in the United States. We can borrow paper books and article reprints only through this process.
  4. In some cases, if you prefer, the Library can order a Zip Book to be sent to your home. A Zip Book is an ordinary paper-format book that arrives quickly at your door.  (When possible, it can be an audiobook on CD if you want.)
At this time there is no fee for Interlibrary Loan service, Zip Books, or Hold requests. 

Films, audiobooks, and music are not available via Interlibrary Loan, but when the Humboldt County Library owns them, you may place a hold on them, even if they are in another library branch.

When You Want a Newly Published Book


If a book is too new to be an Interlibrary Loan or a Zip Book, please make a New Book Suggestion instead. For a successful Interlibrary Loan or a Zip Book the item must be at least 1 year old, but a purchase suggestion lets us know you want something new. You can suggest films, music, and audiobooks as well as paper books.