Tips for Placing Holds from Home
To place a hold through the online catalog:
- Go to the online catalog and search for the item you want. For help on searching please check out our Search Tips page.
- When you have found what you are looking for, click on the blue title link to get a list of libraries that have the item
- Click on the
button. - Type in your barcode # and pin. If you have not created a pin before this leave the field blank and the system will prompt you to create one.
- Select the library where you wish to pick up the material. Using an academic library card? You must select that library as your pickup location.
- Click Submit.
The system will then tell you whether or not the hold was able to be placed, and you can then search for another item if you choose.
If you cannot find the item you are looking for in the Western Mass catalog you may expand your search to Central Mass libraries.
If your search has not brought up any results you can click on the 
button, located to the right of the screen under the heading more resources, to search for the item in Central Mass. You may also place holds on items in the Union Catalog however it is done slightly differently than placing holds in the regular online catalog:
- Once you have found the item you are looking for click on the blue title link. This will bring up a page telling you how many libraries have the item and you then click on the Request This Item link.
- Select the Western Region.
- Enter your name and your library card number.
- Select the library where you wish to pick up the material. Using an academic library card? You must select that library as your pickup location.
- Click Submit.
The system will then tell you whether or not the hold was able to be placed, and you can then search for another item if you choose.
If you are unable to locate the item your are looking for in either the Western or Central Mass. catalogs you can now search the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog.
This will search Massachusetts libraries that are not part of C/W MARS. Please note that if the material is available in C/W MARS you will be unable to place a request through the Virtual Catalog. After you have searched the Union Catalog if you still cannot find the item you are looking for follow the link at the top of the page, "Can't find the title you want here? Try the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog next!" to get to the Virtual Catalog:
- Select the Western Region
- Enter your library card barcode number
- Select the library where you wish to pick up the material. Using an academic library card? You must select that library as your pickup location.
- Click Login.
- Click Searching/Requesting.
- Enter your search in the Term box and click begin searching.
- Click the Request button.
- Complete the Request screen.
- Click Submit Request
Occasionally items cannot be held due to circulation policies of owning libraries and the system will tell you if it cannot fill the request for you. If you have trouble placing a hold or cannot remember your pin please call the library for help.
