Library Catalog Upgrade in ProgressCatalog upgrade

Holds FAQs

From March 1 to April 17, there will be no new holds allowed in the online library catalog.

  1. Why is the ‘no holds placed’ period so long? 
  • We apologize for the inconvenience.  However, because the library is getting a completely new catalog system, we need to migrate as few holds as possible. 
  • This is actually the shortest amount of time we can stop holds and still meet the migration process requirements. 
  • The less data that we migrate from the old system to the new, the shorter the library catalog down time and the greater likelihood that all data will transfer over correctly. 
  1. What about items I already have on hold?  What will happen to those?
  • Any holds placed through Friday, February 29 will continue to be filled.
  1. I’m a Carol Stream Public Library patron and the item I want isn’t on the shelf.  How do I get it?
  • Any item that is owned by the Carol Stream Public Library, is checked out, but has no holds on it will be available on a first come, first served basis. 
  • We urge you to check the online catalog, call, or stop in periodically to verify the availability of any items currently checked out. 
  • We will not obtain these items through interlibrary loan.
  1. I’m a Carol Stream Public Library patron and I want an item we don’t own.  How do I get it?
  • Any item that is NOT owned by the Carol Stream Public Library will be obtained through normal interlibrary loan procedures by the Adult or Youth Services staff. 
  1. I need the item right away.  What do I do? 
  • Reference staff at either the Adult or Youth Services public service desks will be happy to check the availability of items at other libraries.  You will be referred directly to those libraries that have the item on shelf. 
  1. Why can’t I get something from another library if our copy is checked out?  I get things from other libraries all the time that we also own. 
  • During this time period none of the libraries that share our online catalog will have the ability to place or fill holds online.   
  • As a courtesy to area libraries and their library patrons, we do not request material that we are not willing to also loan. 
  • Because of the guidelines of the Illinois Interlibrary Loan Code, our ability to go outside of our library system to request materials that we own is limited in this particular situation. 
  1. Library staff will not be able to keep lists of items to be obtained and/or put on hold in the new system during this ‘no hold’ period. 
  • Because of the volume of holds and new title requests that our library processes on a regular basis, manually maintaining and tracking lists could result in dropped holds, holds filled out of order, holds being filled incorrectly, etc. 
  • We encourage you to keep a list of titles that you want.  Reference staff will be happy to assist, if necessary, the placement of holds when we go live on the new system.
  1. My library card is from a different library.  Can you get an item for me?
  • While we try to accommodate all of our library users to the best of our ability, during the migration process we need to refer you back to your home library (the library that issued your library card). 
  • Cardholders from other libraries will still be able to check out any Carol Stream Public Library item they find on the shelf.