Item Request FAQs

  • General Questions

    If we don’t own a title you want to borrow, there are two ways you can ask us to get it for you:

    • Purchase Requests
      You ask us to buy the item and add it to our library collection.  
    • Interlibrary Loans  
      You ask us to borrow the item from another library system.  

    You can make a purchase request for the following items: 

    • Books published within the last two years 
    • Audiobook CDs 
    • DVDs 
    • Music CDs 

    Read our related FAQ: How Do I Request a Purchase? 

    You can request an interlibrary loan to borrow items that cannot be purchased: 

    • Books published more than two years ago 
    • Journal articles
    • Microfilm 

    Use the "Request an item" form on our website to send us an interlibrary loan request.

    For digital titles, such as eBooks and downloadable audiobooks:

    Patrons with a full access KCLS library card can request 20 items every month. These requests can be for purchase or Interlibrary Loan.

    Patrons with a library card from another library can make only purchase requests. They may make up to 20 purchase requests. The card must be from a partner library, such as Seattle Public Library. These cards do not allow interlibrary loans.

    To see active requests, visit the Check My Requests section on the Request an Item page.

    For more details about library cards and what they offer, see the Library Cards FAQs page.

    The items may already be in transit from other libraries or institutions. Call Interlibrary Loan staff at (425) 369-3490 to ask if it is possible to cancel the request.

    Yes. Go to the Check My Requests page to cancel the request. We will still consider purchasing the item. We will place a hold for you if purchased. Cancel the hold if the item is no longer needed.

    Yes. Use the Item Request form to request physical copies of magazines. Magazine and newspaper subscription requests are reviewed yearly by each library location. Requests may take some time to fill if approved. Libraries will consider these requests during their annual review process. We thank you for your patience.

    No. Patrons can request digital materials for purchase by logging in to Libby and using a Notify Me tag.

    Need help? Refer to our FAQ on how to request digital content.

    Return items to any King County Library branch. Please do not return items borrowed from KCLS to other library systems (i.e. Seattle, Pierce County, or Tacoma Public libraries).

    Select your pickup location when you make your request.

    Some articles from Interlibrary Loan come by email as a file, or by mail as a printed copy.

    To add or update email in your patron account, please call or visit any KCLS library branch.

    *For Microfilm/Microfiche borrowed through Interlibrary Loan service:

    These materials are available for in-library use only. Branch staff will notify patrons when requested items are available for use. Please note, the following 11 locations have Film or Fiche Readers:

    • Auburn
    • Bellevue
    • Bothell
    • Burien
    • Covington
    • Enumclaw
    • Federal Way
    • Kent
    • Redmond
    • Renton
    • Vashon

    To view the status of past item requests, please visit Check My Requests on the Request an Item form page. Each item request status will update from start to finish.

  • Interlibrary Loan Requests

    Interlibrary loan service provides access to materials that are not in our collection, including:

    • Books, except those published within the last two years
    • Newspapers on microfilm
    • Photocopies of specific pages from journals and newspapers
    • Photocopies of specific information from genealogy or other non-circulating materials
    • Theses and dissertations
    • Government documents
    • Reports and conference proceedings
    • Music scores

    You can use interlibrary loan if you have a library card, unless your card has one of the following statuses:

    • Reciprocal borrowers (Non-King County Residents)
    • Cards that are unable to borrow items due to fees
    • Limited checkout
    • Online registration
    • Visitor cards

    Typically 2 to 4 weeks, depending upon the number of libraries that own the item and its availability. Specialized items may take longer.

    • Books published in the last two years
    • DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, eBooks, and downloadable audiobooks
    • Computer software
    • Items we already own, including items with holds and reference materials

    • Books published in the last two years
    • Digital material (eBooks and downloadable audiobooks)
    • Computer software
    • Last copies of titles that we own
    • Reference materials

    We do not charge fees but sometimes an item's owning library does. Fees vary and are set by the lending library. Staff will contact you if an item has a cost to borrow before continuing with the request. Indicate how much, if anything, you are willing to pay on the request form. Fees are payable at the library branch when you pick up the item.

    You can keep items for three weeks with no renewals. If you need more time we can try to request the item from a different library.

    You can add new interlibrary loan requests using our "Request an Item" form.

    Find a link to the form on our website. You no longer need to log in to your online catalog account. Instead, go to the "Books and More" menu at the top of our site. Under "Services," choose "Request Items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan."

    If you’re using our app, find a link to the new form on the app home screen. Find the "Request items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan" link under "Explore Further."
    Or, find the new link under "Settings". First, select "Share Feedback," then navigate to the "Contact your library directly" section. Then use the link to "Request Items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan." 

  • Purchase Requests

    For physical items such as books, audiobook CDs, and DVDs

    KCLS library cardholders with full privileges can request physical items to be considered for purchase.

    Cardholders who have cards in the following statuses may not request purchases of physical items:

    • Accounts with balances of more than $75 in fees
    • Online registration
    • Student cards
    • eCards

    For digital items such as eBooks and downloadable audiobooks

    Library cardholders in these statuses may suggest a purchase of digital items:

    • All-access cards
    • Student cards
    • eCards

    You can add new purchase requests using our "Request an Item" form.

    Find a link to the form on our website. You no longer need to log in to your online catalog account. Instead, go to the "Books and More" menu at the top of our site. Under "Services," choose "Request Items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan.”

    If you’re using our app, find a link to the new form on the app home screen. Find the "Request items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan" link under "Explore Further."

    Or, find the new link under "Settings". First, select "Share Feedback," then navigate to the "Contact your library directly" section. Then use the link to "Request Items for Purchase or Interlibrary Loan." 

    For digital items such as eBooks and downloadable audiobooks

    Library cardholders in these statuses may request a purchase of digital items using the Notify Me tag on the Libby App:

    • All-access cards
    • Student cards
    • eCards

    If you’re looking for a specific digital title that we do not have, you can use a Notify Me tag in Libby. Notify Me will alert you if the library buys the title. However, not all publishers sell their content to libraries in digital format. If you cannot find a title in Libby’s catalog, then we cannot buy the item. You can learn how to use Notify Me with this tutorial or video.

    Yes. If the item is scheduled to be published within 3 months of the purchase request.

    You can use Notify Me in the Libby App to share requests for digital titles.

    In the Libby app.

    No. Instead, you’ll get a notification. 

    Send an email or chat us the magazine title.

    We'll submit your suggestion to OverDrive for consideration. They are continuing to work on adding more magazines.

    We apply selection criteria to every suggested item to see if it’s a good fit for our collection. We are always interested in books written by local authors and/or those about local subjects.

    The best way to bring your book to our attention is through professional reviews. A positive review increases the chance of your book being purchased. Examples of professional review journals include Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal and Publishers' Weekly.

    Due to the number of submissions, we cannot respond to requests individually.

    Here are some general guidelines.

    We primarily buy commercially published materials. This includes:

    • Sturdy binding (sewn or glued, rather than spiral or comb binding).
    • Author, title, publisher, and date of publication clearly indicated.
    • International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
    • Clearly stated price.

    We generally do not buy:

    • Books with pages designed to be filled in or torn out by the reader.
    • Books with supplemental objects such as toys or crafts kits.
    • Picture books in paperback format.
    • Textbooks or other highly specialized items. We buy materials for the general reader rather than the specialist or practitioner.

    How to contact us:

    If you have a King County Library System card, please submit a request through item request and select the Interlibrary Loan Opt Out so the item will be reviewed for purchase only.  

    If you are not a King County Library System patron, you may contact us through our Ask KCLS service. Please include information about the book.

    To make your eBook available through OverDrive:

    Please review their Introduction to Digital Distribution.

    Use the "Request an item" form on our website.