Frequently Asked Questions

To see what you already have on hold, you can do the following:

• Go Directly: 
  • Selecting "Log In / My SJPL" in the upper right corner of any page on our site, and then select "On Hold" under "MY BORROWING".
  • You'll be prompted to log in with your username/card number and PIN.
    • If it's your first time logging in, you'll go through a few steps to register your account. During this process you'll be prompted to create a username.
• Go to My Library Dashboard: 
  • If you prefer to see everything at once — checkouts, holds, fees, and more — select "My Library Dashboard" from the "Log in / My SJPL" dropdown in the header.
  • Then, select "On Hold" from the sidebar on the page under "My Borrowing".

Related Pages: Borrow & Return, Catalog & Website - TIPS - Holds, Account Help - On Hold

You will receive an email or a phone call when the item is ready to be picked up. Please make sure we have your updated contact information.

You can also check the status of your Holds/Requests by logging into your SJPL account online. Select your username in the top right corner and look under under My Borrowing.

If the Status indicates Ready for Pickup, then your item is ready to be picked up at the location indicated. Any other message under Status means that the item is not ready for pickup.

Related Page: Catalog & Website - TIPS - Holds

Search our catalog to find the item you would like. Use the "Place Hold" button in your search results or on the page for an individual item.

You may also call 1-408-808-2000 to speak to library staff. If the title you are looking for is not in our collection, you may be able to obtain a copy from the Link+, opens a new window catalog.

San Jose State Items

San José Public Library users can apply for special Community User access with San José State University. Note that this account is separate from your San José Public Library account.

1. Apply for SJSU Community User access.
2. Receive email confirmation indicating that your account is active and providing information on how to access your account.
3. Request item through the SJSU OneSearch catalog for pick up at King Library. Community users may only request materials that are owned by SJSU.
4. Wait for notification that item is ready for pick up at the SJSU service desk.

Related Page: Borrow & Return

Requested materials are held for 7 days. Your holds pick up notice will indicate the last date for pick up. If you have any questions about your holds, please contact library staff at 408-808-2000.

Related Page: Borrow & Return

The "Freeze Hold" or "Pause Hold" option allows you to pause the progress of a hold request and let others “cut” in front of you in line for an item. It’s useful if you won’t be able to pick up a hold that might be fulfilled during an inconvenient time; you can avoid losing your place in the hold queue or missing your item.

To pause a single hold:

1. Log in to your account.
2. On the menu, click On Hold.
3. Find the title you want to pause.
4. Click the Pause hold
5. Depending on the system your library uses, you may also be prompted to choose an end date, or a start and end date. Pick your dates, and then click Yes, pause holds.
6. You’ll see the message “Successfully paused holds.”

To pause multiple holds:

1. Log in to your account.
2. On the menu, click On Hold.
3. If necessary, filter your holds by clicking Not ready under the My Borrowing summary on the left of the page. On a tablet or smartphone, tap the My Borrowing button first to display the filters.
4. Do one of the following:
   • Click the checkbox next to each item you want to pause
   • Click the checkbox above the items to select all of the items on the page.
5. A bar appears at the bottom of the page. Click Manage items, and then click Pause holds. The number of items affected appears in brackets on the menu.
6. Depending on the system your library uses, you may be prompted to choose an end date, or a start and end date. Pick your dates, and then click Yes, pause holds.
7. You’ll see the message “Successfully paused holds.”

Holds remain frozen or paused until you choose to remove the pause. A hold cannot be frozen or paused if the item is already on the hold shelf, in transit, is a Link+ item or otherwise paged to fulfill your request.

Related Page: Catalog & Website - TIPS - Holds

San José Public Library holds limits are:

• Full Access Cards: up to 15 holds on physical items, including 2 maximum on SJ Access Devices.
• Limited Status Cards: up to 1 hold on physical items.
• Student Cards: up to 5 holds on physical items, including 2 maximum on SJ Access Devices.
• Educator Cards: up to 30 holds on physical items, including 2 maximum on SJ Access Devices
• Limits vary for eLibrary items.

For questions about these changes, please connect with a library staff member available 7-days a week through SJPL's chat service or call 408-808-2000.

Additional Notes:

• Reference Materials may not be requested.
• Get more information about borrowing at Borrow & Return.

Related Page: Borrow & Return

Placing holds on items that are on order are not available in the app. You can do this in the online catalog.

Related Page: SJPL Mobile App

The app will not tell you if your card is expired.

If you attempt the following, you might get an error message that says there is an issue with your account:

• Mobile Checkout
• Placing Holds

Here are some things you can do to fix the issue:

• Expired Card:
  • Check on card expiration by viewing your account settings via the catalog.
  • If you have an expired card, follow these instructions for how to renew your card.
• Fees:
  • Check on your fees via the Fees page in the catalog.
  • If you have excess fees, you can do one or both of the following:
    • pay the fees
    • participate in one of our access programs to waive the fee
• Still getting error:
  • Contact us or talk with a staff member in-person.

Related Page: SJPL Mobile App

This can happen when you try to place a hold on a multi-volume title. An example of a multi-volume title is an encyclopedia.

The app can't handle this type of hold request at this time. Please place your hold using our online catalog instead.

Related Pages: SJPL Mobile App, FAQs: SJPL Mobile App