To order your books, please fill in the online form or phone the number below.

You can ask for up to four books with Request and Read. Parents can also request four books for each of their children. Parents should fill in their contact details for any children under 18.

When you fill in the form, you will need to give us your contact details, library membership number (or CAM number if you have just joined).  Please provide details of titles or the kind of books you are looking for.  Once we have received your order a member of staff will be in touch with you to let you know what is available, and to give you a date and time for collection.

Loan period

Books are loaned for three weeks, but there will be extended loans over the Christmas and New Year period.

Request and Read libraries

There are four Camden libraries offering the Request and Read service: Highgate, Kentish Town, Swiss Cottage and West Hampstead libraries.  We hope to extend this service to other libraries in due course.  Please choose the appropriate link below.  

Before you order

You can check the catalogue to see what books are available at your chosen library, here:

• Search the catalogue

To order

Order online

• Swiss Cottage library
• Highgate library
• Kentish Town
• West Hampstead

Order by phone

• Call 020 7974 6987 (Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 3.45pm).

Highgate, Kentish Town and West Hampstead are open for collections during their current opening hours.  Swiss Cottage is open for collections by appointment. 

At Highgate library we also have book bundles available.  

We will have a collection point in the foyers of the libraries for you to pick up your books.  To ensure that we can keep everyone a safe distance from each other, we will have a queuing system and other safety measures in place.  This will ensure that both staff and customers can comply with social distancing guidance.

Hand sanitiser will be available and we are asking all Camden library customers to sanitise their hands, and to wear a face covering in line with government guidelines.

Your requested books will be made into small bundles. Please bring your own bag for collecting and carrying your items.

If we can't contact you, or you don't collect your books

We will try contact you to confirm your order three times. If we cannot contact you after five days, we will cancel your order.

If you don't collect your order within the agreed time, your books will be returned to the shelves.  To obtain the items after this, you will need to place the order again.

If you are picking up books, you can return library items at the same time. Please ensure that you queue as appropriate, to ensure social distancing between customers.

If you are only returning items and not collecting new books you can drop off your books into collection boxes in the foyer.

Your books will be quarantined for 72 hours and then discharged by library staff.

You can also return your library items at any of our other libraries.