Holds and recalls allow users to request items that are currently checked out to other users.

How to place a hold?

You may place a hold on an item that has been checked out by another user via the LibrarySearch. Except multimedia materials, your hold item can be picked up at any CUHK Library on campus. A Hold Pickup notice will be sent to you by email when your hold is ready for pickup. Items on hold have to be picked up by the date specified on the Hold Pickup notice, or else the holds will be automatically cancelled. In general, CUHK items have to be collected within 2 days at the Self-pickup Station, or within 7 days at all other pickup locations. If the hold requests cannot be fulfilled due to reasons such as items need to be put on reserve, items not found on shelf, etc., a Hold Cancellation notice will be sent to you.

Where to pick up items on hold?

A Hold Pickup Notice will be sent to you once a hold arrives. If you are picking up CUHK items at the University Library or CUHK books at Chung Chi College Library, please go directly to the self-service hold pickup shelves and borrow the items using self-service borrow machine. For all other items, please visit the respective library service counter.

What is a recall?

A recall is a request to get an item back from another borrower as soon as possible. The hold service may lead to a recall of the checked out items and may shorten their due date, i.e. 14 days from the date of recall. The new due date will be shown in users’ Library Record at LibrarySearch and in the Recall Notice sent to the users via email. Items being requested by other user(s) cannot be renewed.

How should I respond to a recall?

If you receive a Recall Notice, you should observe the new due date mentioned in the Recall Notice. Late return of recalled CUHK items will incur a fine at $5/item/day, whereas late return of recalled HKALL items will incur a fine at $4/item/day. Users are strongly advised not to take borrowed items outside Hong Kong. Please note once a recalled item is overdue all items under a user’s account will not be able to be renewed until the recalled item is returned.

To ensure receiving important notices from the Library without delay, users must add/update their email address via their My Library Record in the Library Homepage.

Number of holds