Research Needs: Catalogs and Interlibrary Loan

How To Reserve Checked Out Items    How To Reserve a New Item
Search FirstSearch and Local College Catalogs
Interlibrary Loan    Electronic Resources

The online catalog requires a password (or PIN) to access your account online. Through the online catalog, you can review your account, renew materials, and put your name on wait lists by placing holds. If you don't know your PIN or have forgotten it, please bring your library card to the Reference Desk. In the meantime, you can call the Reference Desk at 343-6118 to renew your books or place items on hold.

Quick Search of the Library Catalog


Library Catalog

Search the library's online catalog for books, large print materials, audiobooks, magazines, music CDs, videos and DVDs.

Look in Library Catalog Look in Library Catalog

If the item you want is available, you can place the item on hold online or you can call the library at 309-343-6118 and request that the items be pulled from the shelf and held for you at the Check-Out Desk.

Your library card includes borrowing privileges at all Illinois libraries. You may pick up the item at the lending library yourself or request the item through library staff. You can place a hold online on items at other area libraries.

Not sure what you are looking for? Perhaps our "What to Read Next?" (also known as Reader's Advisory) can help you find what you are looking for?

Item is Checked Out

If the item you want is checked out, you may go to your account in the online catalog to reserve the item by placing a hold on it. You will be notified when the item is returned to the library. 

Reserve a New Item

Requests may also be made for items that have been ordered but not yet received at the library. Requests may be made in person at the Reference Desk, by phone by calling 309-343-6118 or by emailing reference@galesburglibrary.org.

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Text message alerts

A text messaging service called Shoutbomb is available if you would like to receive text notices on your phone about holds that are available, items that are due soon, overdue items, and fines. Shoutbomb also lets you send a text to renew a loan. (The library does not charge a fee for this service, but your mobile plan’s regular text-messaging rates apply.) Click here for more information.

Access the catalog on your phone

BookMyne v3 for Apple and Android devices makes it quick and easy to access the library on the go. Search the catalog, manage your account, and find suggested reading.

For Apple devices, click here to go to the iTunes page to download.

For Android devices, click here to go to the Android Market page to download.

FirstSearch and local college resources and catalogs

Use the following to locate materials at other libraries. Call the Reference Desk at 343-6118 to request the materials via interlibrary loan.

Bradley University, Cullom-Davis Library

Carl Sandburg College Library

Knox College, Seymour Library

Monmouth College, Hewes Library

Western Illinois University, University Libraries

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Interlibrary Loan

If you want an item that is not available at the Galesburg Public Library but that is owned by a library within the system of libraries GPL belongs to, you can place your own request, or hold, on the item through the online catalog. It will be sent to GPL for you to pick up. You will be notified by email if you have entered an email address into your library account online or by phone otherwise. Library staff are also happy to assist you.

For library cardholders, we can also request books, CDs, videos, audiobooks, copies of articles, microfiche and microfilm not owned by the library or libraries within the system of libraries the Galesburg Public Library belongs to. (The library is not able to borrow new items or DVDs.)

You can request two items per day in person through library staff. Locating and receiving a requested item usually takes one to four weeks. The library will contact you when the requested item arrives.

The library does not charge for interlibrary loan services and is able to fill most requests. Some libraries, however, do charge fees and those fees will be passed along to the card holder.

To place an interlibrary loan request, contact us at 343-6118.

Try our Electronic Resources?

If you didn't find what you needed in the online catalogs or if you need additional resources or information, check out the library's electronic resources for more resources and information.

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Galesburg Public Library, 40 East Simmons Street, Galesburg, IL 61401;  Telephone (309)343-6118.
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December 14, 2011.