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Purchase Requests & Interlibrary Loans

Please note that only Full Access patrons may use our Interlibrary Loan/Purchase Request service!

You may have 5 requests active at any one time (requests for digital materials do not count toward this total).

How to Place a Request

  1. Check our catalog first! (Looking for ebooks or downloadable audiobooks? Go here.) Note: You can't complete a purchase request from the LCPL app, but you can do so from your mobile browser.

  2. If the item you want is not in our catalog, click the Purchase Request/Interlibrary Loan link that appears at the top of your search results. (If you're on mobile, tap Search Options to find the Purchase Request/Interlibrary Loan link).

    Desktop:
    The Purchase Request link is located under the search bar in the catalog
    Mobile: where to find the purhcase request link on mobile

  3. In the window that opens, check the box next to OCLC WorldCat and click Set Databases.
    Select WorldCat to find a book not in our collection

  4. Your search will begin running again, but you may have to click Add Pending Results at the top of your search results to see the new items. (Tip: Use "quotation marks" to search for an exact phrase and use the drop-down Search By menu to specify that you're looking for a title. When all else fails, search by ISBN!)
    Tips: Use quotation marks and the drop down menus to make a more specific search. When all else fails, try ISBN!

  5. When you find the title you were looking for, Click the "Place Request" button.
    Click Place Reqest when you find your title.

    If you're not already logged in, you will have to enter your library card and PIN.
    Please note: Requests can only be completed by Full Access card holders.
    If you are blocked from placing a request due to overdue items, please contact us - we want to help!

  6. If you can't find the item in the World Catalog, call us at (219) 769-3541 or use our 24/7 Ask a Librarian service. We'll help you out!

Following these steps works even if the item you need is out of print or very old - if we can't buy it for our collection, we'll find another library that will loan it to us!

Still Have Questions?

See our Interlibrary Loan & Purchase Request FAQs. If you need more help, you can always use our Ask a Librarian form - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Request eBooks & eAudiobooks

You can also request digital materials to add to the library's Overdrive/Libby collection using Notify Me tags! Here's how.

Some things to keep in mind: 

  • First, check our digital collection to see if we have the item. You should check both Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla

  • If the title is not available in EITHER collection, search for it in Overdrive/Libby and add a Notify Me tag to the title.
    Please note: If the title is available in Hoopla, we will not purchase it for Overdrive/Libby.

  • If we purchase the title, you'll be notified - but you won't be automatically added to the holds list. This is because you get unlimited Notify Me tags and we can't choose for you which titles you want to use your holds on!

  • Your tags are anonymous - we only see the number of tags on a title, not any information about you.

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Looking for something new? These titles have just hit our shelves!

Upcoming Events
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Thu, Jan 08, 11:15am - 12:30pm
Dyer-Schererville - Meeting Room A
The Real Reads book discussion group will read "All the Beauty in the World" by Patrick Bringley. Books for this discussion can be... more
The Real Reads book discussion group will read "All the Beauty in the World" by Patrick Bringley. Books for this discussion can be picked up at the Dyer-Schererville branch a month prior to the event.

Sat, Jan 10, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room B
Interested in any of the needle arts including knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or any craft? Join us for an opportunity to chat and... more
Interested in any of the needle arts including knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or any craft? Join us for an opportunity to chat and create. Please bring your own projects.

Tue, Jan 13, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Merrillville - Meeting Room C
Join Kathy, a Certified Laughter Leader-Expert, for this 8-week series to relieve mental and physical discomfort by laughing!