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. These guidelines apply to requests submitted to the Bucks County Free Library. District member libraries may have their own criteria.
Updated 9/1/2021. Among other changes, users are now limited to two requests per month and suggestions can no longer be submitted before titles are released.
Do I need to have a library card to suggest a purchase?
Yes. Only Bucks County library card holders with accounts in good standing are eligible to participate in the Suggest a Purchase program.
Is there a limit to the number of purchase suggestions I can make?
Due to the popularity of the purchase suggestion program and in order to accommodate as many people as possible, we currently place a limit of 2 suggestions per person, per month.
Patrons who reached the old limit of 60 items per year before September 1 will not be allowed to submit further requests until January 1, 2022.
Do I need to wait until an item has been published to suggest a purchase?
Yes. Please do not submit purchase suggestions for titles that have not yet been published.
Can I request that the library purchase a whole series at once?
No. Each title in a series must be requested separately.
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 to an academic library. We don’t purchase consumable journals, workbooks, or activity books that are designed to be written in. We are also no longer purchasing music CDs or video games for our collection.
We do not purchase nonfiction titles that are more than two years old. In general, we will not purchase self-published titles unless they are widely popular, professionally reviewed, or covered by mainstream media. Titles on “niche” or highly specialized subjects are also not suited to our collection.
Will my suggested item always get purchased?
No. The library welcomes suggestions for materials to be added to the collection, but we cannot purchase every requested title.
Purchase suggestions are considered according to our selection policy. If we don’t purchase a requested print 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 print 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 professionally reviewed, published by a mainstream press, or have received significant media recognition.
What will happen after I put in my suggestion? How will I know if my book was purchased?
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 notified by a staff member.
For eBooks and eAudiobooks: 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. If we do not or cannot get your item, you’ll be notified by a staff member.
How long will I wait to get my suggested item?
If we choose to purchase your item, arrival time will vary based on the volume of requests and the ability of our suppliers to quickly deliver it. It may take from one to six weeks.
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 us.
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. To help us process your request quickly, please include as much information as possible.
