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How to Recall a Checked-Out Library Item
When you need a book, DVD, media equipment, or any other library item that is currently checked out by another borrower, you do not have to wait until their regular due date arrives. You can issue a recall to request that the item be returned early.
Important Recall Reminders
Why Recalls are Necessary
Within the last few years, the Mother Jerome Schmitt Library extended loan durations for all library patrons. Under these generous policies, staff and faculty members are permitted to check out physical materials—such as academic books—for up to 365 days at a time. Because high-demand items can remain checked out for an entire year, the recall system is vital to ensure that resources remain accessible to the rest of the campus community when needed for active research, media projects, or coursework.
What Placing a Recall Does
- Shortens the Due Date: Initiating a recall changes the current borrower's deadline. The library system automatically grants that patron a maximum of 7 days to return the item (whether it is a book, journal, or multimedia resource) to the service desk.
- Secures Your Hold: As soon as the current borrower returns the recalled item and a library staff member checks it back in, the system locks the material down exclusively for you and transitions it to a "Waiting" status.
Standard Holds vs. Recalls
While a standard hold simply places you in line to get an item whenever the current patron decides to bring it back (or when its normal loan period ends), a recall actively prompts the library to retrieve the item immediately for your academic needs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Requesting a Recall
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Step 1: Search for the Item
Log into your library account and enter your search terms in the main catalog search bar at the top of the screen.
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Step 2: Check the Borrowing Status
Locate the item (such as a book, DVD, etc.) in your search results list. Look under the title details to verify its current availability status. If all physical copies are listed as checked out, click on the main title link to open up the item's bibliographic record.
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Step 3: Click the Place Recall Option
On the right-hand sidebar menu of the item's detail page, look closely at your action options. Click on the Place recall link.
Important Note on Login Requirements
Just like standard holds, patrons must be securely logged into their profile to issue a recall request. If you see a prompt asking for credentials, log in with your university account to authorize the system to process the recall.
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Step 4: Confirm Your Request
Review the specific item information on the final confirmation page. Verify your pick-up preferences and click the final confirmation button to officially trigger the 7-day return notice to the current borrower.
What Happens Next?
Once you submit the request, the system contacts the current borrower to adjust their timeline. As soon as the item arrives back at the library, you will receive an automated email notification letting you know your recalled item is waiting behind the front desk.