Requesting Items

3 ways to place requests
Steps to placing a request
Requests-Frequently Asked Questions

3 ways to place requests

A screen will display that will prompt you to type in your first and last name and library card number. (no spaces)
Choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any eiNetwork library.
If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this.
Click Submit Above Information
If the request was successful, you will receive a message "Your request has been sent to the library."

Book Cart

What is the Book Cart?
How do I use the Book Cart?
Viewing your Book Cart
Requesting Items from your Book Cart
Saving, Printing or Emailing items from your Book Cart

What is the Book Cart?

Where you see check boxes, put a check in the box next to the item(s) you want to select. Click on Save Marked Records. You can also save an entire page of titles by clicking Save All On Page. When you do this 2 new buttons appear at the top of the screen: View Book Cart and Empty Book Cart.

Where you see the text Add to Book Cart or Save All On Page, click on it. When you do this, 2 new buttons appear at the top of the screen: View Book Cart and Empty Book Cart.

Type in your first and last name and library card number. (no spaces)
Choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any eiNetwork library.
If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this.
Click Submit Above Information
If the request was successful, you will receive a message "Your request has been sent to the library."

Brief display -will display author, title or publisher. It will not give the call numbers or locations.
Full display-will display the complete record with call numbers and locations.

Email
Screen
Local disk

Enter the e-mail address in the Mail To: box on your screen. Be sure to include the domain name (i.e. @aol.com) in the address.
Type in a subject line (optional)
Click the Submit button.

Click on Submit.
This will create a list of your records.
Use the PRINT command from your browser or ask for assistance in printing.

Click on the Submit button
Your computer will ask you to name the file and choose where the file should be saved. Please ask for assistance if you are in the library.

• You can request several items at a time by checking the box next the records and clicking on the button called 'save marked to Book Cart'.
• You can request single items from a list by clicking on the 'Request'.
• You can request single items by viewing the full record and clicking on the button called 'Request'.
• You can ask any library staff to request items for you.

Instructions for placing requests:

1. You will be prompted to type in your first and last name and library card number.
2. Choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any participating library in Allegheny County. If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this by choosing a date in the 'Cancel if not filled by' field.
3. Click 'Submit Above Information.'
4. If the request was successful, you will receive a message 'Your request has been sent to the [pickup library]'

If you received a message that your request was not successful, click here to find out why.

Book Cart: this is a feature that allows you to save multiple items so that you can request them all at once.

1. As you are searching, you may add items to the book cart by checking the boxes next to the records and clicking on the button called 'Save Marked to Book Cart'.
2. When you are ready to view your saved items, click on the button called 'View Book Cart' at the top of the screen.
3. To request some or all of your items, click on the button 'Request'.
4. You will be prompted to type in your first and last name and library card number.
5. Choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any participating library in Allegheny County. If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this by choosing a date in the 'Cancel if not filled by' field.
6. Click 'Submit Above Information.'
7. If the request was successful, you will receive a message 'Your request has been sent to the [pickup library]'

If you received a message that your request was not successful, click here to find out why.

My Account: Once you are logged into 'My Account' you can search The Catalog and place requests without having to enter your personal information again.

1. Click on 'My Account' and login.
2. Click on 'Search the Catalog.'
3. At the top of each screen you will see a message: 'You are logged in to [Your Library] as [Your Name]'
4. The Catalog will continue to remember who you are until you click on 'Log Out'.
5. Search for your item, click on 'Request', and choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any participating library in Allegheny County. If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this by choosing a date in the 'Cancel if not filled by' field.
6. Click 'Submit Above Information.'
7. If the request was successful, you will receive a message 'Your request has been sent to the [pickup library]'
8. Be sure to log out of My Account when you have finished.

If you received a message that your request was not successful, click here to find out why.

To use the Book Cart:

1. As you are searching, you may add items to the book cart by checking the box next to each record and clicking on the button called 'Save Marked to Book Cart'.'
2. When you are ready to view your saved items, click on the button called 'View Book Cart' at the top of the screen.
3. To request some or all of your items, click on the button called 'Request'.
4. You will be prompted to type in your first and last name and library card number.
5. Choose a pick-up location from the drop-down box. You can choose to pick up your item at any participating library in Allegheny County. If there is a date after which the item is no longer of use to you, please indicate this by choosing a date in the 'Cancel if not filled by' field.
6. Click 'Submit Above Information.'
7. If the request was successful, you will receive a message 'Your request has been sent to the [pickup library]'

If you received a message that your request was not successful, click here to find out why.

If the request was successful, you will receive this confirmation message: 'Your request was successful. You will be notified when this item is ready for pickup at the [pickup library].'

If you received a message that your request was not successful, click here to find out why.

'No items requestable, request denied:' the item you requested is not available to check out. It might be a reference item that has to be used in the library. Contact library staff for assistance.

'This item is unavailable for request:' all of the copies might be missing or lost or there are no copies linked to the item that you wish to request. It could also be a web site address. Contact library staff for assistance.

'There is a problem with your library record. Please see a librarian:' your library card may have expired or you have $10 or more in fees. Contact library staff for assistance.

'Sorry, request refused. Problem with your patron record. Please see a librarian for assistance:' you may have exceeded the maximum allowed number of items allowed by the library. Contact library staff for assistance.

'Sorry, cannot locate patron record:' you mistyped your name or library card number or you do not have a library record. Try entering your information again, or contact library staff for assistance.

An alternate listing with fewer requests in the queue might more quickly satisfy your request. The number of outstanding requests can be found in the full record of the item. Search for your item; from the browse list click on the item. At the top of the list of library locations is a status of the outstanding requests and the number of copies.

• Available: the item is available on the shelf and will fill your request as soon as the item can be pulled from the shelf and/or delivered to your pickup library.
• In Transit: the item is being sent to the designated pick-up library. Delivery can take a few days.
• Ready. Must pick up by: the item is waiting for you at your designated pick-up library.

• If you have chosen to be notified via email through 'My Account, you will get an email the morning after the item arrives at the library. If your email blocks spam, you may need to add the library's email address (library1@iiisy1.einetwork.net) to your allowed email addresses.
• If you don't have an email address, you may get an automated telephone call the day after the book arrives at the library. Automated telephone calls take place between 9 AM and 9 PM, Monday through Saturday.
• You may receive a notice in the US Mail. These notices are normally mailed the day after the item arrives at the library.
• A staff member at the library may call you when the item arrives.
• The status of your request in 'My Account' is 'Ready for Pickup.'

You may also check 'My Account' to see the status of your items:

• Available: the item is available on the shelf and will fill your request as soon as the item can be pulled from the shelf and/or delivered to your pickup library.
• Ready. Must pick up by: the item is waiting for you at your designated pick-up library.
• In Transit: the item is being sent to the designated pick-up library. Delivery can take a few days

Find out more about all of the notification options.

1. Click on the 'My Account' and login.
2. Click on the 'Requests (holds) outstanding' button.
3. Click in the box in the column 'Cancel' and click on the button 'Cancel Selected Items.'

Or call your local library.

Emailing, Printing, Saving Records

About emailing, printing and saving records

Check the Select Item boxes of the items you want.
Click the Save Marked Records at the bottom of the page.
Once the records have been saved, two buttons will appear:
        View Book Cart
        Empty Book Cart

Once the records have been saved, two buttons will appear:
        View Book Cart
        Empty Book Cart

Brief display -will display author, title or publisher. It will not give the call numbers or locations.
Full display-will display the complete record with call numbers and locations.

Email
Screen
Local disk

Enter the e-mail address in the Mail To: box on your screen. Be sure to include the domain name (i.e. @aol.com) in the address.
Type in a subject line (optional)
Click the Submit button.

Click on Submit.
This will create a list of your records.
Use the PRINT command from your browser or ask for assistance in printing.

Click on the Submit button
Your computer will ask you to name the file and choose where the file should be saved. Please ask for assistance if you are in the library.

Wherever you see the Empty Book Cart button, you may click on it to clear your records.
Or you can click on View Book Cart.
Scroll down to your list of saved records.
Check the Select Item boxes of the items you wish to remove.
Click on Remove Marked Records from This List.

Button and Status Meanings

What do the navigation buttons mean?