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PolyU Library

OneSearch Discovery Platform

Request Items

There are chances that the book you need is not available in the library. It could be because our library does not have the book, or our copy has been checked out by another user.

Here are two ways to help you:

⦿ Option 1. HKALL - faster

HKALL is a shared platform by 8 UGC-funded university libraries in Hong Kong. Eligible users can request a book from other libraries when the copy in PolyU is not available. The book will be then delivered to our Library in about 2-3 working days for pick-up. 
 

⦿ Option 2. Place a hold (wait in the queue)

Place a hold to reserve a book when the book is only available in our Library and there are no available copies from HKALL. After you place a hold, the previous user will be asked to return the book in about 28 days.

Follow the steps below to request a book from HKALL, or reserve a local copy when HKALL does not apply.

  1. Click into the record of the checked-out book and sign in to the system if you haven't done so. 
  2. Click HKALL Request. You will then be brought to the record page under HKALL.
  3. Click SEND REQUEST if there are available copies from other HKALL Libraries. If no available copies, you may place a hold from PolyU Library by clicking Request.
  4. Proceed to Request if there is no Volume number or Standard number to specify. You will be notified by email when the book is ready to pick up.

Follow the steps below to request a book from storage: 

  1. Click into the record of the checked-out book and sign in to the system if you haven't done so. 
  2. Click Request to proceed.
  3. Proceed to "SEND REQUEST" if there is no Volume number or Standard number to specify. You will be notified by email when the book is ready for pick up.

Sometimes you may not be able to get the full-text of a journal article because the library does not have the subscription of the journal. In this case, you can request a copy of the article via our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. 

Watch this short tutorial to learn how ILL works:

ILL Video

You may also follow the steps below to place a request from OneSearch:

  1. When you see no results found after a search in OneSearch, first try to check v Expand Results beyond PolyU Library. This may help you get a record of the article you are looking for.
  2. Click on the article record, and sign in with your NetID and NetPassword. Then click on "InterLibrary Loan".
  3. Click on Logon to ILLiad. The details of this article have been pre-filled automatically. Click Submit Request to place the request. Normally you will receive an email notification to download the copy within a couple of days. 

 

Alternatively, you may also directly submit the request form from this page.

Add Items to My Favourites

After you've signed in to your account in OneSearch, you will be able to bookmark the items by following the steps below:

  1. Search your desired keywords. 
  2. Hit the Push Pin to bookmark your favourite items.
  3. View your bookmarked records by clicking the big Push Pin at the top right corner.

Save Searches and Set Alert

After you've signed in to your account in OneSearch, you will be able to save your search queries and set alert to notify you if there is any newly added records matched your saved searches by following the steps below:

  1. Search your desired keywords. 
  2. Click on Save query to keep the search in your saved searches list.
  3. View your saved search query by clicking the big Push Pin at the top right corner and select Saved Searches.
  4. Hit the bell to turn on the notifications to your PolyU email.

Subjects: How-to Guides