How to reserve library materials via the Internet

How to reserve library materials via the Internet

1. Access the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPLs) homepage at www.hkpl.gov.hk .

2. Enter the search term(s) (e.g. the title name) in the Library Catalogue search box and press “Enter”.

3. On the list of titles shown, click on the title you would like to reserve and view its full record and status.

4. Check the edition and then click Reserve (the selected item and any accompanying materials such as CD-ROMs will be reserved). Please refer to Note 5 for explanation on “Title Reservation”and “Unit Reservation”.

5. Enter your library card number or Hong Kong ID Card Number*.

6. Enter your Internet “Password”. Then click Login .

7. Select a pick-up location .

8. Select an expiry date and click Reserve (Your reservation will be automatically cancelled if the item reserved is not available by the expiry date. Please refer to Note 4).

9. A system message and a Transaction Reference Number will be displayed on the screen to confirm the reservation. Please refer to Note 6 if the message “The following requests failed. Please contact a librarian .”is displayed. Whether the reservation is successful or not, you are advised to record the Transaction Reference Number for future enquiry.

10. When the reserved item is ready for collection at the pick-up location, you will receive notification by post, or by email if you have registered for email notification service.  You can also download the official mobile app “My Library” and select to receive Pick-up Notification to receive the hold pick-up notice. If you wish to change your correspondence address, please approach the library counter or change your registered email address by accessing the HKPLs homepage.

11. Reserved items must be collected in person at the selected pick-up location. Readers need to pick-up the reserved material on or before the date specified in the notification. Production of library card/HKID card* is required. Except mobile libraries, the pick-up period of reserved items ready for collection is 10 days. If falling on public holiday or closing day of the pick-up location, the last pick-up day will be extended to the next opening day. Please refer to the date specified in the notification.

        *For readers who have applied for using their smart ID cards for the library services only.

     For enquiries, please contact the library you have selected as the pick-up location.

Notes for Reservation Service via the Internet

1. The reservation service via the Internet is available 24 hours daily.

2. Readers should make sure that their registered correspondence/email addresses are correct before making reservations.

3. A reader may reserve a maximum of 10 items of library materials.

4. Any reservation made will be valid for a default period of 270 days. Readers may change the expiry date to a date ranging from two weeks to two years from the date of change. The reservation will be automatically cancelled if the item reserved is not yet available by the expiry date.

5. System can handle both “Title-level”and “Unit-level”reservations. For general library materials, the reservation will be filled by any available copy under the same title (Title-level). For serials title with Unit information, if reader clicks the Reserve button next to individual items, the reservation will be filled by any available lending copy under the same Unit (Unit-level).

6. Please note that a system message with a transaction reference number will appear on the screen to confirm whether the reservation request has been successfully placed. Reservation cannot be made if:

   • a reader has already reserved 10 items; or
   • requested items are reference materials, audio-visual library materials or library materials not for loan; or
   • the outstanding charge of any item or the total outstanding charges in the account has/have reached the ceiling amount/exceeded the overdue time limit; or
   • There is an outstanding item in the account which has exceeded the overdue time limit; or
   • The account has been suspended due to any other reasons (e.g. the library card has been reported lost). Please contact library staff for details.

7. Reservations submitted may be viewed and updated* in “My Account ”:

   • change of expiry date;
   • change of pickup location ; and
   • deactivation or cancellation of reservation.

   * Update of reservation can only be made if item has not been processed by library staff and the “Modify ”, “Deactivate ”and “Cancel ”buttons are available for selection.

8. A reservation fee of HK$3.3 will be charged for each item (or the prevailing valid reservation fee at the time of collection). Once an item has been reserved and its reservation status is updated to “Available for pickup” or “Transit Hold”, the reader making the reservation is required to pay the reservation fee no matter he/she collects the item or not.