Bucks County Free Library encourages you to suggest items for our collection. We strive to create a collection that’s responsive to our community’s diverse needs and interests.
Is there a limit to the number of purchase suggestions I can make?
In order to accommodate as many people as possible, we place a limit of 60 suggestions per person, per year.
Do I need to wait until an item has been published to suggest a purchase?
You don’t need to wait until an item is published to suggest a purchase. Please note that we order new books and A/V materials three months before publication and eBooks and eAudiobooks two months before publication. Requests for items too far in advance of their publication date will be denied.
We rarely or never miss big authors and bestsellers. If you’re planning to request a book by a big author, wait until three months before the release date, then check our catalog. At that time, you can place a hold on the item and you won’t waste any of your 60 requests.
Can I request that the library purchase a whole series at once?
Each item in a book or television series must be requested separately, so you’ll need to submit a new form for each title or season. Each of these will count toward your annual limit of 60 requests. The library typically doesn’t purchase an entire series at one time. We usually purchase the first few installments, then wait a month or two to see how well they circulate before we purchase additional titles or seasons.
Are there certain types of materials that the library will not or cannot purchase?
There are some items and formats such as textbooks that we don’t purchase for our collections because they’re better suited for an academic library. Likewise, we don’t purchase consumable journals, workbooks, or activity books that are designed to be written in.
We don’t purchase video games by request, nor are we purchasing music CDs for our collection.
Will my suggested item always get purchased?
Purchase suggestions are considered according to our selection policy and guidelines for local authors. While we strive to make our collections responsive to community needs, we’re not able to purchase every title that is suggested. If we don’t purchase a requested physical item, we will instead attempt to get it from another library through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
What if the item I am looking for is out of print or difficult to find?
We will most likely be unable to purchase it. If we don’t purchase a requested physical item, we will instead attempt to get it from another library through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
I am local author. Can I put in a suggestion for my own book?
No. If you would like us to consider your book for purchase, please send an email to selectors@buckslib.org. Works of local authors are not added to the collection unless they have been nationally reviewed, published by a mainstream press, or have received national media recognition.
What will happen after I put in my suggestion? How will I know if my book was purchased?
Your suggestion automatically will be delivered to the appropriate staff member based on the type of material you are requesting.
For physical materials: If your item is purchased, library staff will place a hold on the item for you, and you’ll receive a hold pickup notice when it’s available. You also will receive a pickup notice if the item is acquired via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). If we do not or cannot get your item, you’ll be contacted by a staff member from the library where you indicated you would pick up the item.
If an item is not purchased at the time you request it because its publication date is too far in the future, you will be notified that it is too soon to request the title and your request will be discarded. If the title is later purchased when the publication date gets closer, library staff will not automatically place a hold for you based on your earlier request.
For eBooks and eAudiobooks, you’ll be contacted by the Collection Management Department. If your item is purchased, you’ll be told when it will be available in cloudLibrary to place a hold or borrow. Please note that we are not able to place holds on any electronic items.
How long will I wait to get my suggested item?
For physical materials, this will vary based on how quickly our suppliers can deliver the item. It may take from one to six weeks. For eBooks and eAudiobooks, orders are placed every Friday and purchased titles are available in the cloudLibrary app by the end of the day.
What do I do if I have questions about my purchase suggestion?
If you have any questions about the status of your request, please contact the library where you indicated you would pick up the item.
I have a question not addressed on this page.
Please feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to help!
Use this form to submit your purchase suggestion or Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. By submitting this form, you can ensure that your suggestion is received directly by the appropriate library staff member. To help us process your request quickly, please include as much information as possible.
