Help - Policies and Procedures - Borrowing Help

What follows are frequently asked questions about borrowing policies. Click the question to hear the question and answer. Each answer is followed by a back to top link that leads back to the list of questions.

• What is 'My Cart'?
• How many titles can I have in my cart at the same time?
• How long will a title in my cart remain there?
• How many titles can I have checked out at the same time?
• When I check out a title, for how many days do I get to keep it?
• How do I specify my preferred lending period(s)?
• Can I return items early?
• Can I renew the items I have checked out?
• What happens when I place an item on hold?
• How many items can I place on hold at the same time?
• Once a title that I have placed on hold becomes available for me to check out, how much time do I have to check out the title before the hold expires?
• How do I cancel a hold?
• How do I change the email address that I entered when I placed a hold?
• What is 'Wish List'?
• How can I add a title to 'Wish List'?
• How do I remove a title from 'Wish List'?
• How do I check out a title from 'Wish List'?
• After I check out a title will it be removed from 'Wish List'?
• Why can I add some titles to 'Wish List' but not to 'My Cart'?
• What is a 'release date'?
• A title on 'Wish List' has a message stating that 'this title is no longer available for check out.' Why is the title no longer available?
• What is the 'Average rating' shown by titles at this site?
• How do I rate titles?
• I rated a title before, and want to change the rating. How do I change previous ratings?
• I rated a title before, and want to delete the rating. How do I remove previous ratings?

What is 'My Cart'?

When you come across an available title that you may want to check out, you can click 'add to cart' to place the title in your cart. Placing a title in your cart is like placing it on temporary reserve; as long as the title is in your cart, it will remain available for you to check out. Please note that the system will automatically remove a title from your cart 30 minutes after you have placed it there, making the title available to other patrons at your library.

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How many titles can I have in my cart at the same time?

Our system allows you to put up to 6 titles in your cart at the same time. If you have decided against checking out a particular title, you can click the 'remove' link to pull it from your cart. Please note that the system will automatically remove a title from your cart 30 minutes after you have placed it there, making it available to other patrons at your library.

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How long will a title in my cart remain there?

Once you add a title to your cart, it will remain there for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes have elapsed, the title will be automatically returned to the collection, making it available to other patrons at your library.

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How many titles can I have checked out at the same time?

You can have up to 4 titles checked out at any given time.

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When I check out a title, for how many days do I get to keep it?

Lending periods can vary from title to title. Additionally, you can set personalized default lending period(s) on a format-by-format basis at the 'Lending Periods' page. Click here to specify your personal lending period(s).

Additionally, you can select a lending period on a title-by-title basis. In the course of checking out any title, you will have the option to select a different lending period for that specific title.

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How do I specify my preferred lending period(s)?

You can set personalized default lending period(s) on a format-by-format basis at the 'Lending Periods' page. To set your lending period(s), click the desired number of days next to the format. Click 'Done' once you have selected your desired lending period(s). Click here to specify your personal lending period(s).

Additionally, you can select a lending period on a title-by-title basis. In the course of checking out any title, you will have the option to select a different lending period for that specific title.

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Can I return items early?

Due to publisher licensing agreements, OverDrive media titles cannot be returned early. They will automatically be returned at the end of the lending period.

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Can I renew the items I have checked out?

The items you have checked out cannot be renewed, but you can check them out again if they are available when the checkout expires.

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What happens when I place an item on hold?

The title you have placed on hold will be reserved for you to check out once it becomes available. When the title is available for you, you will receive an email with instructions on checking the item out. The item will be held for you for 4 days (starting when you are emailed notice that the title is available).

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How many items can I place on hold at the same time?

You can place up to 10 titles on hold at a given time.

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Once a title that I have placed on hold becomes available for me to check out, how much time do I have to check out the title before the hold expires?

Once the title you have placed on hold becomes available for check out, you will receive an email indicating the title is available. If 4 days elapse from the time you are emailed this notice, and you have yet to check out the title, the title is returned to the library collection, making it available to other patrons at your library.

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How do I cancel a hold?

To cancel a hold, please take the following steps:

1. From any page, choose the 'My Account' button.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Click the 'My Holds' link.
   The list of titles that you have currently placed on hold is displayed.
4. Click the 'Remove' link next to the title in which you are no longer interested.
   This action cancels the hold.

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How do I change the email address that I entered when I placed a hold?

To change your email address, follow these steps:

1. From any page, click the 'My Account' link.
2. Log in to your account.
   The 'My Account' page is displayed.
3. Click the 'My Holds' link.
   The list of titles that you have currently placed on hold is displayed.
4. Click the 'Edit' link next to the title for which you would like to change hold notification information.
   You are prompted to edit holds information.
5. In the 'Email address' field, enter the new email address at which you would like to be notified of the availability of holds.
6. Confirm your new email address by entering the new email address in the 'Confirm Email address' field.
7. Click 'Submit'.
   Your email address is updated. A message is displayed stating that you will receive an email when the title becomes available for checkout.

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What is 'Wish List'?

When you come across a title that you are interested in checking out, including titles that have not yet been released, you can click 'add to wish list' to place the title on your 'Wish List'.

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How can I add a title to 'Wish List'?

To add a title to 'Wish List', click the 'add to wish list' link for the title.

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How do I remove a title from 'Wish List'?

To remove a title from 'Wish List', click 'Sign In' to sign in to your account, and click the 'Wish List' link. Click the 'Remove' link for the title you wish to remove from 'Wish List'.

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How do I check out a title from 'Wish List'?

If a title on 'Wish List' is available for check out, click the 'add to cart' button. Your cart is displayed. Click 'Proceed to Checkout' to check out the title.

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After I check out a title will it be removed from 'Wish List'?

No. Titles remain on 'Wish List' after they are checked out so that you may reference them again if desired.

To remove a title from 'Wish List', click 'Sign In' to sign in to your account, and click the 'Wish List' link. Click the 'Remove' link for the title you wish to remove from 'Wish List'.

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Why can I add some titles to 'Wish List' but not to 'My Cart'?

Titles that have a future release date (the date on which the publisher releases a given title in a given format) may be added to 'Wish List' but not to 'My Cart'. These titles cannot be checked out until they are released.

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What is a 'release date'?

A release date is the date on which the publisher releases a title in a given format.

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A title on 'Wish List' has a message stating that 'this title is no longer available for check out.' Why is the title no longer available?

Titles that have not yet been released are removed from 'Wish List' in cases where publishers have delayed or postponed the release of the title, or when the title is otherwise made unavailable by the publisher or library.

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What is the 'Average rating' shown by titles at this site?

Once signed in at this site, you can rate titles on a scale of 1-5 stars. The ratings displayed for each title are an average of the ratings submitted for that title.

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How do I rate titles?

Once signed in at this site, you can rate a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can rate a title you have currently checked out from the 'My Bookshelf' page. From either of these pages, next to 'My rating', click the number of stars you want to award the title. This site automatically applies your rating to the existing average, and recalculates the 'Average rating' to include your input. To rate a title you currently have checked out, click here.

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I rated a title before, and want to change the rating. How do I change previous ratings?

After signing in at this site, you can change the number of stars that you have awarded a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can change any of your previous ratings at the 'Rated Titles' page. Or, if you want to rate or change a rating for a title you have currently checked out, you can do so from the 'My Bookshelf' page. At any of these pages, next to 'My rating', click the number of stars you want to award the title. This site automatically recalculates the 'Average rating' to include your revised input.

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I rated a title before, and want to delete the rating. How do I remove previous ratings?

After signing in at this site, you can remove the rating that you have awarded a title from its details page. Alternatively, you can remove ratings from any previously rated titles at the 'Rated Titles' page. Or, if you want to delete a rating for a title you have currently checked out, you can do so from the 'My Bookshelf' page. At any of these pages, click 'Remove rating' to remove your rating for a title. This site automatically recalculates the 'Average rating' for the title, excluding your previous rating from the recalculation.

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