In the United States, Libraries usually participate in a program called ILL (Inter-Library Loan). You can request the book be sent to your nearest branch and they’ll find a library that has it in stock. Just look up “[Your library name] interlibrary loan” in your preferred search engine

  • fubarx@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    ILL is the older system, where you make the request to the library and they go try to find it.

    There’s a newer “Link+” service where you can do the search yourself and request delivery to specific branches. Supported by a lot of member libraries, for example: https://sfpl.libanswers.com/faq/103121

    In our library system, they don’t put Link+ holds with normal holds. You have to go ask someone to look. We get an email that it’s arrived and we have 3 days to pick it up.