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COVID-19 Related Library Service News and Updates More Info

Arlington Public Library

Service Updates

New Outdoor Storytime Series at Central and Shirlington Library

In-Person Storytime Series Kicks Off Outside at Central Library on May 18.

Young girl holding a teddy bear while sitting outside in the park.

Outdoor Storytime is a fun and interactive program, presented by youth service librarians, and combines activities such as read-aloud stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and flannel boards.

A kick-off event will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 10 a.m., at Central Library adjacent to Quincy Park, with special guest Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh.

“We are thrilled to bring back one of our most popular programs for young children,” said Library Director Kresh. “Storytimes lay the foundation for curiosity, imagination and deepen the connection to the outside world,” Kresh continued.

Two programs will be offered — Family Storytime for children from 0-5 years, and Lapsit Storytime for babies age 12 months and under. Each program lasts approximately for 20 minutes.

Family Storytime (0-5 years)

  • Outside Central Library – Tuesdays, 10 a.m., May 18 – June 29
  • Outside Shirlington Branch – Tuesdays, 10 a.m., May 25 – June 29

Baby Lapsit Storytime (0-12 months)

  • Outside Central Library – Thursdays, 10 a.m., May 20 – July 1
  • Outside Shirlington Branch – Thursdays, 10 a.m., May 20 – July 1

For safety, family groups should be accompanied by one adult only and spaced 6 feet apart to account for social distancing. Masks are required for adults and all attendees are encouraged to wear a mask.

Attendance at Outdoor Storytimes and Baby Lapsit Storytimes will be first-come, first-served until event capacity is reached.

Interested in attending? Visit our events calendar to RSVP for an event reminder and to receive weather-related cancellation notifications.

Columbia Pike & Aurora Hills Update, Outdoor Storytimes

Columbia Pike Front Window

Interior of the newly renovated Columbia Pike Library.

As we look towards summer, Arlington Public Library is preparing to increase in-person services and reopen additional Library branches in the coming months.

Summer Goals

Based on the recently approved Arlington County FY22 Budget, the Library plans to expand open locations after July 1, as hiring and training of new staff allows.

The Library hopes to:

  • Open Aurora Hills and the newly renovated Columbia Pike branches during July
  • Open Cherrydale and Glencarlyn branches by Fall 2021, and sooner if possible
  • Expand service models at Central Library, Shirlington and Westover branches
  • Prioritize increased access to library collections, public computers and public space at all locations, with continued consideration for social-distancing

The Plaza branch will remain closed in preparation for a long-planned expansion and renovation.

Stay tuned for additional updates and specific dates for service changes as summer approaches.

Community Programs

Planning continues for socially-distanced outdoor Library programs this summer.

Donations & Book Sales

The Library and the Friends of the Arlington Public Library (FOAL) cannot accept unsolicited donations at this time, as we do not have the space to store them or the staff available to sort them.

The Friends are doing limited FOAL member book donation events by appointment only. For more information, please follow the Friends on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or contact them by email at donations@arlingtonlibraryfriends.org.

Join the Friends

We can't wait to see you back at the Library, or at one of our outdoor programs!

As always, we value your feedback. Tell us what you think about our Library services. We will read and consider all comments.

Library Services Feedback

Increased Browsing Time at Express Libraries & Expanding Service

Library staff stand outside of Westover pointing at the front door, looking excited.

Express Library Service opening day at Westover; photo by Library Director Diane Kresh.

It's been exactly one month since Express Library Service opened at the Shirlington and Westover Branches!

Since then, more than 16,000 items have been checked out at our Express Libraries, and 60 percent of the items checked out have been children’s material.

As of April 13, in-person browsing at Express Library locations has increased to 30 minutes, for 30 people.

We are excited by the opportunity this new service has given us to welcome Arlington readers back into the Library, and grateful for your support and patience over the past year.

As we continue to expand services and offerings to the community, we have some exciting updates to share.

Coming Soon

  • With warmer weather ahead, look for The Truck at more outdoor community events.
  • We’ll soon hold outdoor story times (limited capacity and safety measures will be in place).
  • Summer Reading starts June 1! Look for more info coming soon.
Program and outreach librarians hand out books, craft kits and info at AFAC.

The Library’s Partnership & Outreach team visited AFAC and other neighborhood organizations for National Library Week 2021.

Looking Ahead to FY2022

The Library will hire new staff this spring, in order to begin opening more locations this summer.

  • Community health metrics are not the driving factor in regard to opening additional locations and services. The County has been under a hiring freeze for more than one year. Libraries cannot open additional locations or services with current staffing levels.
  • The County Manager recently approved exceptions to this hiring freeze for Libraries with a goal to reopen additional locations as soon as possible in FY 2022, which begins on July 1, 2021.

COVID-19 Friendly Programs and Services for You

While we continue to bring in-person Library services back, our online events and socially-distanced programs and services are designed to serve your needs:

We look forward to seeing you online, and reconnecting with you at the Library!

We value your feedback. Tell us what you think about our Library services. We will read and consider all comments.

Library Services Feedback

Express Library Service Open at Shirlington and Westover

We look forward to welcoming you back for 15-minute browsing and holds pickup at the Shirlington and Westover Branches!

Hours:

  • Tuesday to Thursday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Express Libraries look very different — available services, visit length and capacity will be limited and safety protocols will apply.

Read the Express Library FAQs

Before You Visit

  • Review the FAQs and safety protocols on this page.
  • Pay fines of $15 or over on your Library account, as fine payment is not available at self-check.
  • For low-contact self-check, download the Arlington Public Library App and scan your digital library card at checkout.
  • Update your username for easier holds pickup.
  • Review your library account contact information, including your notification preferences.
  • If you haven't used your library card since before June 2020, update your PIN to a new password.
  • If you signed up for a card online and this will be your first visit to the library, bring ID and proof of address with you so staff can verify your account. You will not be able to use self-check until your account has been verified.
  • Check the online catalog for availability and location/call number of items you are interested in.

Holds

When you place items on hold you will now see the option to choose Shirlington or Westover as your holds pickup location. You can also change the pickup location of items currently on hold.

Holds at Express Libraries are self-service, shelved by username.

Usernames

Holds are shelved by username. Your username can be used to log into your account in place of your library card number. If you have never selected a username, the default username on your account is your name: FirstMiddle.Last or First.Last.

Reasons to update your username:

  • Patrons who have a common first name may wish to set a unique username to make self-service holds pickup easier.
  • Patrons who prefer to keep their names private may set a username.
  • Family members may choose similar usernames so their holds will be shelved close together.

Please note: Changes to usernames will not affect items currently ready for pickup.

Over 3000 Magazines Now on OverDrive/Libby

If you are an avid OverDrive or Libby app user, or if haven't yet tried the Library's eCollection, there are over 3000 new reasons to do so!

Digital magazines previously available through RBDigital are now available to read in OverDrive and Libby, along with thousands of new titles including the Economist, US Weekly, and the New Yorker.

How Borrowing Works

  • Borrow up to 10 digital magazine titles at one time (magazines don’t count towards your 10 eAudio/eBook limit)

  • Digital magazines can be checked out for 21 days, and are automatically returned when the checkout period expires.

  • Return digitial magazines early from your OverDrive or Libby app.

How to Get Started

You can read OverDrive/Libby eMagazines using the OverDrive website, OverDrive App, and the Libby App. All you need to get started is your library card. The OverDrive and Libby apps are available for download from the iTunes store for the iPad and iPhone, and on the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices.

For more information visit our OverDrive/Libby page:

OverDrive and Libby Magazines

Need Help?

Visit the OverDrive and Libby help pages for additional support.
If you have any other questions, contact Library staff by chat, text, or phone.

Central Library Holds Pickup Closed Thursday, Feb.18 Due to Winter Weather; Online Activities, Phone and Chat Continue as Scheduled

Due to the expected winter weather, in-person Arlington County facilities including Central Library Holds Pickup Service will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 18.

To check the County's snow and ice removal status visit  https://emergency.arlingtonva.us/weather/snow-ice.

 

Central Library Holds Pickup is Open Monday, Feb. 15

Arlington County Government offices and services are operating on modified schedules.

What is the holiday that takes place today? 

  • In Virginia, the official state holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February is named "George Washington Day," and the federal holiday is named "Washington's Birthday."
  • In Maryland the holiday is "President's Day," but until 1996, MD celebrated Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12 and Washington's Birthday on the third Monday of February.
  • 23 states celebrate Presidents Day; many of these states honor Abraham Lincoln, as his birthday is also in mid-February.

Shirlington and Westover Reopen March 9 for Express Library Service

Browsing and Holds Pickup

Westover return bins.

Effective, March 9, 2021, Arlington Public Library is reopening the Shirlington and Westover Branch Libraries for a 15-minute Express Library Service.

"This has been a long year and Arlingtonians have missed their libraries. We are delighted to bring back time-limited, in-person browsing and reconnect with the community we love," says Library Director Diane Kresh.

Open Hours

  • Tuesday through Thursday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At Shirlington and Westover Express Service locations, library patrons will be able to:

  • Browse books and media
  • Pick up holds
  • Check out items by using the self-serve checkout stations
  • Receive physically-distanced assistance for account management and wayfinding

Patrons will be able to browse and check out books and media for 15 minutes initially with the possibility of expanding to 30 minutes after evaluating patron demand. The library’s priority is to provide library access to as many patrons as possible while ensuring patron and staff safety by limiting the number of people in the building at one time.

All other services will be unavailable, including public seating, meeting rooms and public computers.

Holds Pickup and Online Services

The Holds Pickup Service at Central Library will continue to operate as scheduled and patrons can use online Library resources 24x7. Patrons are encouraged to use these services in lieu of browsing when possible.

"Our plans for reopening have always been predicated on our ability to establish a sustainable model and maintain the safety of patrons and staff. The last thing we wanted to do was reopen prematurely and close again, frustrating patrons and staff, alike," Kresh continued.

All other branches will remain closed at this time, and a reopening date for the remaining branches has not yet been determined. Arlington Public Library continues to work closely with County Government leadership and the Department of Public Health to make decisions about Library operations.

Express Library Service FAQs

Send Us Your Feedback

We value your feedback. Tell us what you think about our Library services; we will read and consider all comments.

Send Us Your Feedback About Express Library Service

If you have a question that requires a response, need help accessing your Library account or placing holds, please contact us by phone, online chat or text.

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