How Do I Request Audiovisual Materials Not in the Library Catalog?

What's Up with the Library Catalog?

We have recently launched our new Library catalog, Polaris, a stand-alone system to handle all of our materials, circulation, cataloging, patron records and transactions.

As a result, more of our audiovisual (AV) materials are now available for you to borrow at any given time, as they will not be shipped to other libraries to fill their holds. Additionally, requests you place on library materials will only be in competition with other Troy Library cardholders. You will no longer see waiting lists of 300+ names on a title. One borrower was thrilled to learn that he had moved from #129 on the list to #4. We have also reallocated funds from other areas into AV to add extra copies and more new titles of DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and the like.

You Can Help! 

If you don't find the AV items you want in Polaris, consider filling out a Suggestion for Purchase form, available at all public desks, or use the contact form on our website. We will make every effort to acquire them for the Library. If you need the titles more quickly, you may utilize Suburban Library Cooperative (SLC) libraries. We still belong to the SLC. Troy residents retain access to all of the SLC materials as before. Only the methods of getting them have changed. Our staff will happily assist you in any of these processes, as needed.

How Do I Get AV Items from SLC Libraries?

AV materials, including VHS tapes, DVDs and audiobooks, as well as books, are still available to you from SLC libraries. However, they cannot be delivered to Troy. They must be checked out on the SLC system, which we no longer have. Take your Troy card (with ID) to any SLC location to check out items from that library, once staff has entered your card number in their system. We can also call any of these libraries to set aside material, to make sure it is waiting for you before you drive to that location.

After your Troy card has been entered in the SLC system, you may also place requests (reserve) AV items through the iBistro shared catalog, requesting pickup at the most convenient location - Sterling Heights is the closest SLC member to Troy. Once you open iBistro, click on Sterling Heights Library, and search just as you used to, leaving "All" selected under "Libraries." Once you have checked out SLC materials, you may return them to Troy, or any SLC library. Just be aware that they will not show as "checked in" on the SLC system until they have been delivered back to the loaning library and checked in there. The SLC check in will be "back dated" to the actual day the materials were returned to Troy, so overdues will not be incurred unless the original return to Troy is after the due date.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of transition, and for helping us continue to develop our AV collections to serve you better!