Libraries - Request Service
Within Kingston's libraries you have access to over 230,000 books, spoken word cassettes/CDs, videos/DVDs, playstation games, music CDs, CD-ROMs and multimedia language courses, as well as music scores and play sets.
When you visit the library, many of these items are on loan to other customers and only a fraction will be seen on the shelves. By using the request service you can expand your choice of these materials to include those items which are not on the shelves when you visit.
When you place a request we will check a number of sources of supply. First of all we will check the holdings in all the borough's libraries and if the item is in stock we will reserve it for you. If the item is not in stock, the request can be passed on to the Lending and Reservations Team to consider for purchase or inter-library loan.
How to request any item
Or you can search for and request an item online from the Library Catalogue if you know your membership number and PIN. For more details of online services go to the online catalogue pages.
The cost of reserving items can be found in our Fines and Charges document.
All reservation charges are payable on collection. A reservation charge will be payable if a reserved book is not collected. Please notify the library if a book is no longer required.
The British Library Document Supply Centre can also supply photocopies of journal articles provided full details are given. About 85% of inter-library and British Library requests are successful, although some heavily requested items may take some time to arrive. Drama and music groups in particular are advised to give as much notice as possible when requesting music score sets, as many authorities take bookings for scores many months in advance - when applying please state the version/edition and number of copies required. All books borrowed from other libraries are subject to their loan conditions and renewal may not be possible.