Q. What does Freeze/Thaw holds mean?

Note: You can suspend holds for digital items on Libby or the OverDrive website, in addition to physical materials on the main library catalog below:

When placing an item on hold on the main catalog, you will notice a holds pickup location and log out option on the same screen where you click Submit Request. Once you've placed your hold request, your holds will be populated in the Hold Requests section of the My Account tab. This section contains all the information for each individual hold you have placed, it's pending status and holds ready for pickup. When a hold is active, you are listed in the holds queue for that item and when it becomes your turn, the item will be held for you at your preferred library location. To Freeze or Thaw a hold changes its status between Active and Inactive. If you choose to freeze your hold, an option to thaw at a specific date will be given to you. Doing so will activate your hold on that specific date, your hold will be Inactive until that chosen date. Note: If no date is selected, your hold will be inactive or frozen until you manually activate or thaw it.

If you place an item on hold and realize after that you do not want the book immediately, you can Freeze the hold so that it is Inactive. Freezing a hold does not completely remove you from the list, but it allows others on the list with Active holds to get the item while your hold is Inactive. Your place in the holds queue is held until the activation date you choose, or until you Thaw the hold manually.

Thawing a hold changes the status back to Active. Once you become first in the queue, the item will be held for you as soon as it is available.

To Freeze/Thaw a hold, you will need to login to My Account on the Library's website. To login, you will need your 14-digit library card number and your PIN/password. Your PIN/password is automatically set to be the four-digit year you were born (ex. 1975).

• Once you are logged in, click on Hold Requests to view the items you have on hold
• Click the Freeze Hold option next to the item you wish change the hold status of.
• Enter the new Thaw Activation Date for the hold and click Freeze Hold

Updated 4/02/25