How to request multiple copies of a title

Check the Book Discussion Books Web page maintained by the Library Service Areas. Iowa libraries have posted titles available for loan in multiple quantities. If the title is listed contact the library directly to make loan arrangements. If the title is not listed you can still request multiple copies through SILO.

1. Log on to SILO ILL
2. At the SILO Master Menu, select:   "Search SILO Locator" and click on "Submit Request"
3. Type in the keywords for the desired book and click on "Send Query."
4. From the results list click on the Record # of the appropriate citation in order to display the full citation. Choose a record which shows many libraries own the title.
5. Click on "Interlibrary Loan Request Form."
6. For the first copy: in the "Locations" boxes, leave the first library listed in Location 1. In Location box 2,3,4,and 5 click on the down arrow and select "No Locator Choice" from the end of the list.   
7. Click on Submit.
8. To request more copies of that title, click on Brief Listing on the confirmation page.  This returns you to the results list.
9. Click on the same record as you selected for the first request.
10. Click on Interlibrary Loan Request Form
11. In the "Location 1" box, click on the down arrow to the right of the box and select a different library from the library you selected for the first copy.
12. Continue steps 8-11 to request additional copies.

This method requests each copy from only one library at a time.  If that library cannot fill the request, you can request from another library by following the above procedure but selecting a library further down the list, from which you have not requested a copy already.

If there are many libraries who own the book you can certainly fill in more than one location for each copy; if you do this and the first library cannot fill the request it will automatically go on to the next library on the list.  Just be certain you are filling in different libraries on each request so no library could get more than 1 request for the book.

If there is no record listed with many locations, or if there are many records for that title on the results list, you may make the requests by individually selecting each record on the list and submitting an Interlibrary Loan form.