Requests service

If you are looking for something that isn't in your library, our requests service will try and find it for you.

If we have copies here in Plymouth we will reserve one and send it to your local library for you to collect. This is free if we notify you by email when it's ready for collection. (£1 by letter)

If we don't have a copy we will try and get one from another library. This costs £1.50 if we notify you by email (£2.50 by letter)

For more information on charges, please see our charges page.

You can check our online catalogue and reserve items yourself if you have a PIN. If you haven't got a PIN ask in your library or email library@plymouth.gov.uk.

BooksFast

If you need a book urgently, you can use our BooksFast service. You can request any non-fiction book (whether or not we have it) which has been published for at least three months. We will deal with your request immediately and update you regularly on progress.

This is a premium rate service - please check our charges page for the current price.

What can I order?

Books

• Fiction, both new and old
• Non-fiction, both new and old
• Reference books (we can't usually borrow these from another library if we have a copy of our own, but we will try the British Library)
• Theses
• Conference proceedings
• "Grey" literature

Periodicals

• Whole volumes
• Photocopies of an individual article for you to buy and keep

Music

• Single scores
• Performing sets for choirs and orchestras

Plays

• Single copies of plays
• Sets for performance

DVDs, videos and CDs

• We can borrow some items we don't have from Devon and Torbay libraries.

Audiobooks

• We can borrow some items we don't have from Devon and Torbay libraries and other UK libraries.

How long can I keep it?

If the item comes from one of our libraries, you can borrow it for the usual period and then renew it (or keep it for up to six weeks, for hired items.)

If the item comes from another library, we will tell you how long they say you can keep it.

If the book comes from the British Library you can usually borrow it for about two weeks. If you want to renew a book from the British Library it costs £2.50.

If we supply you with a photocopy, once you have paid for it you can keep it.

Why is there a charge for photocopies?

We need to charge for photocopies to comply with current copyright legislation.

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