Borrowing a Book
Found a book you want to read? Here’s how to request it, pick it up, and keep track of your loan.
Finding Available Books
Section titled “Finding Available Books”Books show their availability status on the book card:
- Available — Ready to borrow now
- On Loan — Currently borrowed by someone else (you can join the waitlist)
- X copies available — Multiple copies exist, showing how many are available
[Screenshot: book cards showing different availability states]
Requesting a Book
Section titled “Requesting a Book”- Tap the book to open its details page
- Tap Request to Borrow
- If the book is in multiple libraries, select which library you want to borrow from
- Wait for approval
[Screenshot: request to borrow confirmation]
What happens next:
- Library-owned books: Usually approved instantly—you’ll be notified right away
- Member-owned books: The owner receives your request and typically responds within 24 hours
Tracking Your Request
Section titled “Tracking Your Request”Check your request status anytime:
- Tap My Loans in the navigation
- Find your book under Pending or Active
You’ll see the current status and any actions you need to take.
Picking Up Your Book
Section titled “Picking Up Your Book”Once approved, the owner will drop off the book at the library (or arrange a direct handoff).
When the book is ready:
- You’ll receive a notification
- Go to the library location shown in the notification
- Find the book on the designated shelf
- Tap Confirm Pickup in the app
Pickup window: You have 7 days to pick up the book. If you don’t pick it up in time, the loan is cancelled and the next person in the waitlist gets the book.
[Screenshot: pickup confirmation screen with library location]
During Your Loan
Section titled “During Your Loan”Loan period: Most libraries set a 21-day loan period. You’ll see your due date on the loan details.
Reminders:
- 3 days before due: “Due soon” reminder
- Due date: “Due today” reminder
- Day after: “Overdue” notice
Extending Your Loan
Section titled “Extending Your Loan”Need more time? You can request one extension per loan:
- Go to My Loans
- Find the book and tap Request Extension
- Choose how many additional days you need (up to 14 days)
Extension approval:
- If no one is waiting: Usually auto-approved
- If someone is waiting: The owner decides whether to approve
You can request an extension starting 7 days before your due date.
If You Can’t Pick Up
Section titled “If You Can’t Pick Up”Life happens. If you can’t get to the library:
- Go to My Loans
- Find the pending pickup
- Tap Cancel Pickup
This frees up the book for the next person in line.
- Enable notifications — Time-sensitive actions like pickup have deadlines
- Pick up promptly — Missing the pickup window affects your reliability score
Related Articles
Section titled “Related Articles”Still Need Help?
Section titled “Still Need Help?”If you’re having trouble borrowing a book, contact support.