Recall or Hold Materials

Placing Holds/Recalling on Books

When material is unavailable patrons should also consider using Circuit or Interlibrary Loan to obtain the item from one of our consortia partners.

If the book you need is checked out and is not readily available through Circuit or Link+, you may request that it be recalled (called in from one Library patron for use by another). All books are subject to RECALL after a period of ten days. When recalled, books should be returned to the Library within two weeks.

A HOLD may be placed, either online or at the Circulation Desk, to reserve an item currently checked out by another borrower. When returned and ready for pickup, you will be notified by e-mail or mail. The item will be held for the requestor for eight days. For further information on these services, please inquire at the Circulation Desk.

Search Services

If you have a valid SDSU ID and cannot locate a book in the book stacks, you may place a ‘Request/Hold’ on the item from any terminal within the library (‘Request/Holds’ cannot be placed on available material from any terminal outside the library). Staff will conduct an in-depth search for the book. If the search is successful, the book will be held for you at the Circulation Desk for one week. If the search is unsuccessful, the request will be cancelled and you will be directed to place a request through Circuit.

If a bound periodical cannot be located in the bound periodicals stacks, please complete a green Request to Locate Bound Periodical form at the Circulation Desk. Once located, volumes are re-shelved correctly in the bound periodicals stacks.  You will be notified by email that the requested volume has been located and re-shelved.