Not Available? Not Necessarily!

At the Crawfordsville District Public Library, we have more than 80,000 books on our shelves, but sometimes, we don’t have the one you need! What do you do when you find a gap in our collection?

First, ask a librarian! We’re great at tracking things down. The information you’re looking for might be hidden under a subject you didn’t expect. For example, information about solar power is under the 600s in technology and applied sciences, but there are other related titles under the economy section in the 300s. Short stories may be collected under a different title, and collaborative works may be shelved under a different author’s name.

Found it in our online catalog but not on the shelf? Click on “Availability” to view the status and shelf location of any item. This will let you know if an item is on a display or otherwise in a different section of the library than you expected. If it’s checked out, you’ll see the date it’s expected back. Put the item on hold so we’ll set it aside for you when it’s returned. Just click the “Place Request” button and sign in to your account using your library barcode number (on the back of your card) and the four-digit passcode you set up when you got the card.

If we really don’t have what you need, don’t lose hope. Search our online resources! We share our ebook collection with the entire state of Indiana, so there’s a strong chance that you’ll find what you need on Libby, Hoopla, or Kanopy. We also offer free access to databases like Inspire and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine for more research-friendly sources. See our full list of offerings on our Digital Resources page. 

If you can’t find it online, or if you would prefer a physical copy, you can ask for an interlibrary loan (ILL). Through this service, we borrow materials from other libraries nearby. You must be 18 years or older and have a CDPL card in good standing. Request your ILL on our Interlibrary Loan page, ask at one of our help desks, or fill out a green patron request card available next to our public catalog computers.

You can use those same green cards to ask us to purchase items for our library. We strive to maintain an accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive collection of the titles most relevant to our community’s interests. Your suggestions help us hone our collection to better serve our patrons! We cannot guarantee the purchase of every requested title, as we have certain requirements for collection development. You can read more about it on our Library Policies page. 

Whether we have it onsite, in physical or digital format, make a purchase for the collection, or borrow from another library, we will do our best to find the item you are looking for.

Check out what’s happening on our website at crawfordsvillelibrary.in.gov or call us at 765-362-2242. The library is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.