FAQ - Ordering Items to Reading Rooms

Who is entitled to register for this service?

Any one is entitled to register as a reader at the National Library. Registration is free of charge.
Click here to register.

 

How can I order a book from the storeroom?

After registering as a reader, you can order books from the storeroom to the Library’s reading room. You can order items using the online catalogue from any computer that is connected to the internet. Click here for more information about this service.

 

How can I check out a book from the library?

Click here for more information about Library lending services.

 

How do I know which copy of a book can be checked out of the Library?

After you have logged in to your account on the Library website, locate the item you want using the Library's online catalogue, and click on "Order".
• Copies specified as "Requestable to Reading Rooms" can be ordered to a reading room and are for in-library use only.
• Copies specified as "Copy for Loan" may be taken home.

 

Can a book that was ordered for use in a reading room be checked out of the Library?

If you have a membership that allows you to check out books from the Library, you may check out books that were ordered to the reading room, so long as the item in question is listed in the catalogue as a “Copy for Loan.”
Please consult the service counter in the reading room and request the item to be transferred to the Circulation Desk.

What is the loan period for a borrowed book?

The return date for each item is indicated in the "Personal Zone" section of the website.
Click here to enter your own Personal Zone.

An item ordered to a reading room will be held there under your name for a period of 7 work-days. If no extension is requested, the item will be returned to the storeroom at the end of that period.
Items that have been checked out and taken home are due back in either one month or three months, depending on the reader’s membership registration.

Is the loan period automatically extended?

No. The loan period is not automatically extended. It is the responsibility of the reader to extend the loan. Near the end of the loan period the reader will receive notification concerning the loan's potential extension. If the item has not been requested by another reader, it is possible to extend the loan.

 

How can I extend a loan for a book that has been checked out of the Library?

You can extend your loan in your Personal Zone on the website.

 

I received notification that the book is in a remote storage facility. What does this mean?

This means that the item you have requested is in a storage facility outside of Jerusalem. It may take up to three work days for the item to reach the Library. The supply time for an item located in a remote storage can vary.
You will receive notification when the book reaches the Circulation Desk.

 

I received notification that the book has been lost. What does this mean?

This notification means that after an extensive search, the book was not found in the library storerooms and therefore is not available for use. In such cases you may turn to the Circulation Desk for help in finding an alternate copy in another library in Israel or abroad. Please be aware that in most instances, there is a fee involved for this service.

 

I ordered a book and received notification that the book is on loan to another reader. What should I do?

Check in the “Locations” tab in the catalogue to see if the item is on loan in one of the reading rooms, in which case you may request to use the book in question in the reading room, provided that it is not being used by the reader. When you are done, return the book to the service desk where it will continue to be held under the name of the reader, until it is transferred to you within 7 days of your request.

If the item is checked out from the library, the item will be marked “On Loan” and no location will be given in the “Locations” tab. As soon as you order the book, the current borrower will receive notice of your request. You must wait for the return of the book. You will receive an email notification as soon as the book has been returned to the Library.

 

I received notification that a book I checked out has been ordered by another reader. What should I do?

If the item is being held in one of the reading rooms, there is no need for you to take any action. The staff at the service desk will give the reader the book.
If you have checked the book out of the Library, you must return the book by the date specified in the notification.

 

How long does it take for a book to reach the service desk?

An item that is in the building will reach the service desk in the reading room within a half hour of being ordered. In certain instances, mainly with regard to periodicals, it may take longer for the item to arrive in the reading room.
For information about an item in remote storage, click here.