Central Library: Delivery Desk

What to Know About Books Marked “In-Library Use Only”

The Boston Public Library has millions of books. Some you can take home, and some you can’t. The books you can’t take home are intended to be permanent copies and are marked “In-Library Use Only” in the catalog. These are kept:

• In staff-only areas in the Central Library; and
• In a storage building in West Roxbury. This is not the West Roxbury Branch and is not accessible to the public.

You will always pick up "In-Library Use Only" books at the Delivery Desk on the second floor of the Central Library’s McKim Building. See map. Delivery Desk hours are the same as the Central Library’s regular hours:

• Monday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Tuesday  9:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Wednesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Thursday  9:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Friday  9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Saturday  9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Sunday  11:00 am - 5:00 pm

To ask for a book at the desk or over the phone you will need:

• A Boston Public Library card – if you don’t have a card, staff at the Delivery Desk can help you register for one; and
• The title and call number of the item(s) you want.

To ask for a book through the catalog, you will:

• Login using your Boston Public Library card number;
  • If you do not have a card, you cannot place a request through the online catalog. Call the Delivery Desk at 617.859.2244. They will pull the materials in advance, and you can sign up for a free research card or regular physical card when you arrive (make sure to bring photo ID and proof of address; a driver’s license or state ID fulfills both requirements).
• Find your book and place a hold;
• Go to your hold and change the pickup location to “Delivery Desk”;
• Come in and pick up your hold when you get an email notification. Items will be held for two weeks.

How long it takes to get a book depends on where it’s stored. You can use the catalog or ask at the Delivery Desk to figure out where your book is stored.

In the catalog, check “View Location Availability.” If you see:

• BPL – Central Delivery Desk
  • These items are on-site at the Central Library and readily available.
  • They can be requested up to 30 minutes before closing time.
  • Requests may take up to 30 minutes for staff to process and retrieve.
• BPL – Archival Center
  • These items are off-site in storage.
  • Requests are filled within 10 days.
  • You will receive an email when the item is available.
  • Some of these items may be too damaged or fragile to deliver. If this is the case, we will work with you on other ways to get access.

If you are unable to finish your reading before the library closes for the day, let us know. We are happy to extend your time. We will keep your book on our holds shelf for up to 2 weeks, with further extension available on request.