holds &
BORROWING

We're glad you're here!

Use a DGPL card to borrow books, movies, music, and so much more! Downers Grove residents can become cardholders, but everyone is invited to explore and use the library.

Did you know...

  • If you have a library card from another library, you can still check out materials at DGPL! Any Illinois library card will work at DGPL. 

  • Is your home library in the SWAN library consortium? Return materials at DGPL and we'll take care of the rest!
    • SWAN Libraries nearby: Indian Prairie (Darien/Burr Ridge/Willowbrook), Oakbrook, Westmont, Woodridge, District 58 and 99 school libraries

  • All community members are welcome to use the library's public spaces. Annual guest passes for computers are available with an ID. 

Placing HOLDS

Can't find what you're looking for? Want to 'pre-order' a title you're excited about? Put it on hold!  

Once a title is placed on hold, staff will grab it from the shelves or have another library send a copy as soon as it's available. Holds will be available for seven days after a patron is notified they are ready. After seven days, the library will return the item to its shelf for other patrons to enjoy.


THREE WAYS TO PICK UP HOLDS:

In the library: during open hours

  • Log in to your account
  • Search the catalog for your materials. Click on "Place Hold"
    • If the item is listed as 'Oh Shelf' at DGPL and wanted for a same-day pickup, the library recommends patrons call, or email a service desk instead of placing the hold themselves. Holds placed through the website take a minimum of one day to process
  • Select "Downers Grove Public Library" for pickup location
  • A notification will be sent to let you know when materials are ready for pick up
  • Come to the library's hold section on the first floor, next to the Café and Checkout Desk
  • Check out your materials before leaving the building

3D Prints and Poster Prints are available to pick up at the second floor Computer Help Desk. 

Want to save your place in line but don't want your hold immediately? Freeze a hold in your account by entering the unavailable dates. Holds will not be fulfilled until you're ready.

In the Holds Lockers: available 24/7

  • Log in to your account
  • Search the catalog for your materials. Click on "Place Hold"
    • If the item is listed as 'Oh Shelf' at DGPL and wanted for a same-day pickup, the library recommends patrons call, or email a service desk instead of placing the hold themselves. Holds placed through the website take a minimum of one day to process
  • Select "Downers Grove Public Library Locker" for pickup location
  • A notification will be sent to let you know when materials are ready for pick up
  • Come to the Curtiss St. entrance of the library and bring your library card! The Hold Lockers are to the right of the Curtiss St. entrance
  • Follow the prompt on the screen; scan your library card or enter your library card number
  • A locker door will open automatically. Take your materials and close the locker

Curious about how the lockers work? View a tutorial video!

At Another Library

  • Log in to your account
  • Search the catalog for your materials. Click on "Place Hold"
    • If the item is listed as 'Oh Shelf' at DGPL and wanted for a same-day pickup, the library recommends patrons call, or email a service desk instead of placing the hold themselves. Holds placed through the website take a minimum of one day to process
  • Select the library of your choice as a pickup location
  • A notification will be sent to let you know when materials are ready for pick up at the location selected

Borrowing & Fines

Borrowing

Returning items by their due date is expected. After an item is 21 days overdue, the library card will be blocked from checking out additional materials.

Items may be renewed online, over the phone at (630) 960-1200, or in person at the Checkout Desk. Most items may be renewed up to five times and will auto-renew upon their due date if they are not returned. Items may not renew if another patron has a hold on the item, is part of a non-renewable collection, or if the patron’s card is blocked.

Renew items online

3 week checkouts:

  • Books and audiobooks
  • Magazines
  • CDs
  • DVDs and BluRays
  • Video Games
  • Bags

2 week checkouts:

  • New books, audiobooks, movies, and music (located in the lobby)
  • New video games
  • Lucky Day

For unlisted items, please ask staff.

Fines

The library does not charge late fines for library materials. 

Items that are damaged, lost, or 42+ days overdue will be billed to patrons, and the library card will remain blocked from checking out additional materials until the fine is paid. Items that are overdue 45 days or more may be sent to our material collection agency. Accounts sent to this agency are automatically charged a $10 referral fee in addition to material fees charged to the patron account. The library does not accept replacements for lost or damaged items.

Fines may be paid through the following options:

  • Checkout Desk: cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express
  • Over the phone 630-960-1200: credit card
  • Online: credit card

Pay fines online

Learn more about what Fine Free means

Interlibrary loan

DGPL is part of a library system called SWAN Library Services. Over 100 libraries share a catalog to provide access to a collection of over 1.2 million items! Libraries within the SWAN system regularly share and deliver materials to other libraries at no cost to the patron. In fact, you may have gotten a title through interlibrary loan without knowing it!

If you’re unable to find an item at least 6 months old in our catalog, you may be able to request it from a library that does not share their items in our catalog through interlibrary loan. The library will try to find your request in the SWAN system first. If it's not available through SWAN, the library may request a loan from an out-of-system organization. 

Looking for an item that is too new for interlibrary loan? Suggest a purchase for our collection.

In-system

  • All community members with an Illinois public library card (any library) are welcome to place in-system holds at DGPL
  • There is no cost to request an in-system hold
  • Please allow at least one week delivery for a hold marked 'On Shelf' at another library. If the book is marked 'Checked Out,' you can check your queue status in your account

To order materials in-system:

  • Search the library's catalog
  • Select "All Libraries" in your filters (default filter)
  • Place your title on hold and choose which library you would like the title delivered to.* Libraries help each other fulfill holds by sending the soonest available copy to the next patron in line
  • To view which libraries have the title you're interested in, click "View all copies" near your search result's shelf location

*Most libraries will allow DGPL Cardholders to pick up materials at their locations. For a list of participating libraries, search the pickup location dropdown menu when placing a hold.

View a map of the SWAN library system

Out-of-system

  • Downers Grove Library cardholders only.
  • Request up to 25 items per month.
  • Out of state loans are assessed a $5 fee per item.
  • Cost for damaged or lost items is determined by the owning library.
  • Please allow at least two weeks for delivery of these loans.

To order materials out-of-system, contact the Adult & Teen Services Department at 630-960-1200, or ATS@dglibrary.org.

If you’d like to search for and request the item yourself

  • Access WorldCat Discovery.
  • Search for your item. Click the “Request Item through Interlibrary Loan” button.
  • Complete the contact and library card information form.
  • Click "Submit."

Need help? Staff are happy to assist you. Call 630-960-1200.