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Advance Reserves for Materials from the General Collections

The Collections Access, Loan and Management Division offers four types of advance reserves for materials from the General Collections as described below.

Overnight Reserve Service

Overnight reserve service allows a requester to submit requests for materials for the following day.

  • In the reading room, complete a call slip for each item, omitting the desk number, checking the overnight request box on the slip, and filling in the next day's date and your last name.
  • Submit the call slips at the Book Service Desk.
  • Books retrieved in this manner are usually available by 10:00 AM the next day and will be held at the desk throughout the day. Books not picked up by the end of the day are returned to the stacks and may not be re-shelved for several days.
  • Since the Library is closed on Sunday, overnight requests submitted on Saturday are available on Monday.
  • Information pertaining to the status of overnight requests will not be provided by telephone.

Saturday Reserve Service

Saturday reserve service allows a requester to submit a call slip for materials to be retrieved for the forthcoming Saturday.

  • Such requests may be submitted during the five weekdays preceding any Saturday.
  • In the reading room, complete a call slip for each item, omitting the desk number, checking the overnight request box on the slip, and filling in the date of the forthcoming Saturday and your last name.
  • Complete a call slip for each item, omit the desk number, check the overnight box on the slip, and fill in the coming Saturday's date and your name.
  • Books retrieved in this manner are usually available by 10:00 AM on Saturday.
  • Information pertaining to the status of Saturday advance requests will not be provided by telephone.

Advance Reserve Service

Advance Reserve Service allows a requester from outside of the Washington metropolitan area to request materials in advance of their visit.

  • Advance Reserve Service is available for items from the General Collections of the Library only. The online catalog record for these items bear the following notation: "Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms."
  • Generally, requests for Advance Reserve Service must be made at least a week in advance, and the patron must already have identified the relevant call numbers.
  • For International researchers, please provide advance notice of at least two weeks.
  • Once the call numbers have been identified and forwarded, Book Service staff will check the shelves for the availability of the items.
  • If the items are available, they will be held for the patron's planned arrival.
  • To request Advance Reserve Service, forward a request to Ask a Librarian.
  • Once a request has been received, the patron will be contacted by a CALM manager.
  • This communication must be established before the retrieval process is started.
  • The CALM manager or supervisor will inform the patron of the location where the materials will be held.

Special Advance Retrieval Service

Special retrieval services are provided for those needing large amounts of material from the general collections.

  • A patron requiring a number of books for a special project or a long run of a periodical should forward a request to Ask a Librarian
  • On a case by case basis, a CALM manager or supervisor will discuss the individual's needs to determine whether a special accommodation is warranted. CALM will try to meet those needs in the most efficient manner possible.
  • Once a request has been received, the patron will be contacted by a CALM manager.
  • This communication must be established before the retrieval process is started.
  • The CALM manager or supervisor will inform the patron of the location where the materials will be held.
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  Home >> Advance Reserves
  The Library of Congress >> Researchers
  July 22, 2010
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