When you want to find a book, you probably come to the library and look on our shelves. Or perhaps you use our online catalog to see whether we own a title. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, don’t stop there! In addition to our great print collection here in the library, you can access MILLIONS of titles through our library partnerships.
We have several ways to get you the book or DVD you’re hoping to find. Through our lending partnerships, MOBIUS and Prospector, we’ve paired with many regional libraries to share our collections. Borrowing books from other libraries in our partnerships is easy, free, and fast!
Easy:
Looking up titles in MOBIUS is simple. If you type in a title in our catalog and don’t see any results, click the MOBIUS button on the upper right hand side (under our logo) to do the same search on the MOBIUS site. You can check Prospector by clicking on the upper right hand corner. Once you find the title you want, simply click “Request It” and enter your name and bar code number. It will let you know if your request has gone through successfully. If you’d rather not use the computer for your request, feel free to call the Adult Services desk (515 222-3403) and we can search for titles and make requests for you over the phone.
Free:
Your library card allows you to access materials from around the Midwest and further. You are only limited to 10 MOBIUS/Prospector requests at a time, which includes materials that are on their way to you, materials that are currently checked out, and materials that are on the way back to their home library. You can see your current requests by logging into your library account, or by asking one of our friendly staff members at the library.
Fast:
MOBIUS/Prospector loans take about 1.5 weeks to arrive. You’ll receive a hold notification when your hold is ready for pickup, and it will be on the hold shelf at the front circulation area, under your last name. These materials have to be checked out at the Accounts and Circulation desk – they don’t work with our Self Check Kiosks.
But wait, there’s more!
Even if the item you’re looking for isn’t available through MOBIUS/Prospector, our Interlibrary Loan staff can often find it for you at a library somewhere else in the nation. This service is free, and you’ll be notified directly by staff when the item arrives at the library or if we were unable to find the item for you. Arrival times vary, depending on where the item is travelling from, but you can always email our Interlibrary Loan staff at interloan@wdm.iowa.gov or call them at 515-222-3572 if you have any questions. If you’ve already looked in MOBIUS/Prospector and don’t see the title you’re looking for, fill out our online form and we will do our best to find the title for you.
What’s the difference between MOBIUS/Prospector and Interlibrary Loan?
MOBIUS and Prospector are connected to our catalog, which allows you to place requests yourself and see them in your account right away. Items requested this way have set checkout periods – books are a 4 week checkout, and audiovisual materials check out for 10 days. If you’d like more time with a book requested via MOBIUS/Prospector, you can renew it directly from your account or ask a staff member to do so. Renewals on books are not always able to be granted.
Interlibrary Loan requires staff members to place requests for you, so items do not appear on your account until they arrive and have been checked out to you. In other words, you will not see these requests in your hold list. There are no set checkout periods for Interlibrary Loans – the lending library will set a due date for the material, and renewals are sometimes possible.
Please let us know what you’d like to read next! Happy borrowing.
