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Is the Free Library of Philadelphia open to new book requests?

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Mystery Shopper: Requesting a New Book at the Free Library

If at that place'south a volume you lot want that's not part of the Free Library of Philadelphia'southward collection, volition they add together it to the catalogue? In the latest installment of our Mystery Shopper series, one of The Denizen'southward (many) resident bookworms finds out.

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Mystery Shopper: Requesting a New Volume at the Gratis Library

If in that location's a book you lot want that'southward not office of the Free Library of Philadelphia's collection, volition they add information technology to the catalogue? In the latest installment of our Mystery Shopper series, one of The Citizen's (many) resident bookworms finds out.

Aug. 02, 2021

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Everyone remembers the librarians of our youth, whether they were shushing u.s. every bit we giggled with classmates, or gently guiding u.s. through rows of shelves to our desired book. Sometimes the tome of our dreams was well within reach, or simply checked out by another pupil.

But what virtually when the library—gasp—directly upward lacks a copy of the volume you're looking for? That'southward a rare occurrence at the Free Library of Philadelphia, which is the 13th largest public library system in the United States. But in the unlikely event that the system doesn't accept the volume y'all want, you, as a Philadelphia citizen, have every right to request an improver to its drove.

Here's what happened when we tried to exercise just that:

Steps taken to request a book at the Free Library of Philadelphia

  1. The starting time, and perhaps the almost difficult step of this procedure was finding a volume the library didn't already have in its collection. It already has multiple copies of Jennifer Weiner's newest hit, That Summer (although, I was told, there is a 103 -person waitlist). I finally decided on Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson, historical fiction about the truthful story of the Six Triple 8, the just all-Black battalion of the Women'south Army Corps during World War II. I realized the library didn't yet have the book by plugging titles into the search bar on its website and choosing the "catalogue" option.
  1. To get the volume, I begin by calling my local branch, Mantua's Charles L. Durham Library, and was directed to the Central Branch of the Free Library along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. I never got through to a real person, though, then I figured there must be an easier fashion.
  1. I log in to the Costless Library of Philadelphia's website, and navigate to the "Contact U.s.a." section on the site at the bottom of the homepage. Hither you can "Ask A Librarian" a question by submitting it and providing your email address electronically (you lot do not demand to provide a library card number or mailing address). The site said that a staff member would answer within 72 hours.
  1. A librarian got back to me in less than 24 hours, although she said that my local co-operative couldn't accept any new shipments due to Covid-19 staffing shortages. Off-white plenty.
  1. I realize that when asking for a volume to exist added to the Free Library's collection, information technology might benefit you to non ask for information technology to be added to a specific branch's collection. Unfortunately, non all of them are fully operational due to the pandemic. But the library network does share a wider drove of books that you lot tin can place on hold or bring together a waitlist for via the website.
  1. After Librarian Laurie checked that Sisters in Arms was not on guild or already in the collection, I was notified that in order to have my asking forwarded to the Acquisitions Department for consideration, I would have to provide a description of the volume.
  1. I electronic mail back with all the info I can find about the book.
  1. Almost exactly one day later I received an email that "Our fiction selector took a look at your recommendation and has decided to lodge a copy of Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson for the collection. An detail tape should appear in the online catalog by the stop of side by side week on which you volition be able to place a concur for the championship."

Result: Information technology was that easy! And now I can get the title that I desire, for free, simply in time for my adjacent vacation.

Fourth dimension spent: An hour or and so over the form of 2 days

Takeaways: The procedure of making a asking to the Gratuitous Library wasn't equally tough as I thought information technology might be, and the staff fellow member I communicated with was responsive and helpful. I will definitely utilize this service more in the future.

Lightning commodities rating: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

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Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/free-library-request-book/