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Library Operations Updates and Mask Requirement More Info

Arlington Public Library

All Library Locations are Closed Due to Coronavirus

In an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Arlington Public Library has closed all locations as of March 17, 2020, at 9 p.m.

We made this decision to support the overall health and wellness of our community and for the safety of our patrons and staff.

Fines

  • All fines and due dates for physical items are suspended until further notice.

Returns

  • All book drops are closed at this time.
  • Please keep library items at home until we can resume Library operations.

Donations

Holds

  • Holds on physical items have been disabled in the catalog and Library App until further notice.
  • Holds are available on items in the eCollection.
  • Note: OverDrive holds no longer check out automatically. When you receive a notification that your hold is available, go to your Overdrive account Holds page to borrow the item.

Library Accounts

  • The expiration date for all existing regular and internet only cards has been extended to October 1, 2020.
  • If you are having trouble with your library card, contact the librarians through Chat or Text.

eCollection

  • Available 24/7 with your library card.

Stay in touch with us

This was a difficult decision, as we care deeply about serving the public. Closing the Library to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 is the responsible thing to do, and the best way to serve our patrons - many of whom are at high risk.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Learn the latest information about how Arlington is responding to COVID-19 on the County website.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Your colleagues at Fairfax County Public Library are with you in spirit! We closed all of our branches to the public in the interest of public health starting on Monday, March 16th.

  2. Confused. Your mobile site says all locations are closed, and also says Central and Columbia Pike are open for WiFi, PC, and self service loans. Which is it? Thanks.

  3. Checking out books and videos helps people get through difficult times. Reducing library access to nothing does not help the situation. A ban on group meetings would suffice.

  4. What happens if I had a hold come available today, will it still be on hold whenever you decide to open again?

    • Kelly,
      Yes, all holds on books and other physical items that are showing as available now will be available to you when we reopen.

  5. Can we still put in reserve requests online for books the library is acquiring? And if so, how?

    • Cynthia.
      While the Library is physically closed, you cannot place new holds on physical books. But you can place holds on eBooks and eAudiobooks using the catalog or the Library App.

  6. The news caught me off guard I thought all library are closed except central and Columbia pike if I knew that all library location are closing I would have gone to central and borrowed a lot of book I stop going to library and purchased book online and my younger brother said why not go borrow book to library again instead of buying online but what can I do we need to be safe amid this crisis we all going through

    • Ella,
      I’m so sorry that this news caught you off guard. This situation has been very fast moving, much like the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) itself, and the decision to close was made on Tuesday to protect the health of patrons and Library workers. Hopefully you can take advantage of the eBooks and eAudiobooks still available in our collection.

    • I not an expert on tech but how can I used your ebook service I have Amazon fire this is my first time to use your ebook since library is close

    • Ditto. I have an old card that was long expired and recently got a new one on the website. Didn’t have time to go and verify before this all happened and it expires tomorrow. Is there any way I can verify my residency online and keep my card? Thanks so much for all your hard work. Stay safe!

    • Julie,
      The Spring Friends of the Library Book Sale has been postponed. Stay tuned for more information once the Library is able to return to regular service.

  9. I’m glad you are closing all locations. It makes good sense even though we will miss going through the shelves and picking up something that looks interesting.

  10. I know it must be a difficult decision to close the library, and I am sad that it has to be this way, but I think the library made the right decision. I went to the library 30 minutes before closing last night, and was concerned by the amount of coughing I could hear in the building. It may be just a simple case of throat clearing, but I did hear some hard coughs as well, which worried me. I was ready to leave the library after 10 minutes, but what about the library staff who had to be in the building? So this is the right decision to close, for everybody’s safety and health. Some people who have the virus do not exhibit any outward symptoms at all, which is even more concerning. I hope the library staff and patrons stay safe, wherever you are, and hopefully all this will be over soon.

  11. Your announcement says you closed on 3/17. I showed up at Westover during scheduled work hours in order to pick up a held item in its last day and the branch was already closed. I had checked before going there (I don’t live close) and there were no closure announcements.

  12. Have you made any arrangements for temporary, in-home use of databases which are usually only accessible via library computers? In particular, I would like to be able to use Ancestry.com. Though I have not personally confirmed the information, my in derstanding is that some other library systems within the country have worked with Ancestry to make this happen.

    • Hi Deborah,
      Thank you for this question. We are currently working to open access to databases that are currently limited to in-library use only, including Ancestry. We will let you and the Library community know when we’re able to do so.

      • Also, many Arlington residents will not have access to wireless especially during work layoffs. Does library have any plans for access to hotspots, etc during this crisis.

  13. My card has expired so I can’t get the eBooks or Audio books. Is there a way to update my card online?

    • Hey Tricia,
      Try using your card – all cards that since January 2018 have now been extended through June 1, 2020.

  15. Thank you for being the best Library in the United States, you have the best Librarians, Best Books, Best Computers, Best Looking Facility. Sincerely, Bill Riley a Prospective Jeopardy Champ!

  16. So now that schools are closed through the end of the school year, has any thought been given to take-out service-style use of the library? Many restaurants and stores have a system where employees stay apart and either let in a limited number of people to pick up orders or bring them out to customers. I know this wouldn’t be easy. Nonetheless, the lack of books and the long wait times and limited selection of ebooks makes some sort of system necessary.

  17. Is it possible I may have to return all 12 books I borrowed at once when the Library re-opens? My first books don’t come due until 3/31/2020 and several titles are up for renewal if the Library reopens before then.

    • John,
      All of your books are currently extended until the Library can resume normal operations. We don’t know when that will be, but when we do know, we will inform you by email (and in your library account) of your new due dates. The new due dates will not fall before your current due date, even if we are able to open before March 31. When we can resume normal operations, you will be given a reasonable amount of time to either return or renew your books.

    • Hi Ron,
      At the moment we are not able to take any donations of books or other materials for the Friends Book Sale. Once we are open and able to return to full service again, we will be happy to take your donations.

  19. My library account remains accessible via my desktop, but when I try to call the account up on my iPad, I can log in but none of the information about my checked out books or holds populates. Any ideas about why this is happening?

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