Alert

All Library Locations and Services Closed June 18-19 in Honor of Juneteenth More Info

Alert

COVID-19 Related Library Service News and Updates More Info

Arlington Public Library

Library Catalog and Patron Accounts

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.

ALERT: Scheduled Library System Downtime Tuesday, Feb. 2, Starting at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, starting at 7 p.m. the Library catalog and accounts system will undergo a scheduled upgrade. The work is expected to take several hours.

During this time you will be able to search the catalog, but access to the eCollection and patron accounts on the web and in the Library App and will be unavailable.

Previously placed holds and items already checked out in the OverDrive, Libby and RBdigital apps will not be affected.

Introducing Flipster Digital Magazines

Our new Flipster Digital Magazines platform provides access to 12 best-selling digital magazines including People, Sports Illustrated, Real Simple, The Atlantic, and more.

You can check out and/or download as many issues of digital magazines as you want and read them anytime, anywhere on your phone, devices, and/or computer. Access to current and older issues of digital magazines are also available.

How Borrowing Works

  • Most weekly digital magazines expire in 2 days; most monthly digital magazines expire in 7 days.
  • Digital magazines can be checked out and downloaded again once they expire.
  • There is no limit on the number of titles you can borrow at one time, although certain titles do have limits on the number of simultaneous users allowed.

How to Get Started

You can read Flipster Digital Magazines on your phone, tablet, or computer via your web browser or by downloading the Flipster App to your mobile devices. The Flipster app is 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, including a getting started guide, visit our Flipster Digital Magazines page.

Flipster Digital Magazines

Flipster Digital Magazine App Views

ALERT: Central Library will be Closed Sunday, Jan. 31 Due to Snow

Due Dates – Items due on Sunday, Jan. 31 and Monday, Feb. 1 are now due on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

Holds – Holds set to expire on Sunday, Jan. 31 will be extended until the next day Central Library is open.

Calendar – Take and Make Crafts pick up for Monday, Feb. 1 at Central Library and Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Shirlington Branch Library have been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 5 at Central Library, from 12 – 2 p.m.

ALERT: Scheduled Library System Downtime Wednesday, Jan. 13 Starting at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, January 13 at 7 p.m. the Library catalog and accounts system will undergo a scheduled upgrade.

During this time you will be able to search the catalog, but access to the eCollection and patron accounts on the web and in the Library App and will be unavailable.

Items already checked out in the OverDrive, Libby and RBdigital apps will not be affected.

RESOLVED: eBooks and eAudiobooks from OverDrive are Temporarily Unavailable

Resolved December 29, 2 p.m.

If you continue to have issues with your OverDrive account, contact OverDrive help and support.

We are experiencing a temporary OverDrive outage.

eBooks and eAudiobooks currently do not appear in the Library catalog, and login access to the OverDrive and Libby apps is unavailable.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope to fix the outage as soon as possible.

ALERT: Holds Due To Be Picked Up October 16-19 Are Extended To October 20

Due to a messaging outage, holds due to be picked up Friday, Oct. 16 – Monday, Oct. 19 will be held at Central Library until Tuesday, Oct. 20.

We apologize for any confusion this may cause. Please check your library account to confirm your current hold status (i.e.: on the hold shelf). Please note: Any items currently on the hold shelf and due to be picked up October 16-19 will not reflect the correct pick up date of October 20 in your account.

If you need help resetting your account password during this time, please contact us by phone, chat or text.

Notices meant to be sent Friday, Oct. 9 – Monday, Oct. 12 are being sent now. Because of the backlog, some message in the queue for today (Tuesday, Oct. 13) may not go out until Thursday. Other emailed library notices, including overdue reminders and autorenewal confirmations, may not be delivered. Please check your account online for the status of any checked out items. Since July 1, daily overdue fees have been eliminated.

 

Access Restored to Library Catalog, Patron Accounts, Library App and eCollection

Update: Access to all Library systems has been restored as of 10 p.m.

Due to a planned system maintenance, the Library’s catalog and patron accounts system, as well as the Library App and eCollection will be unavailable as of 9 p.m. on Friday, October 9.

Any items already checked out in your OverDrive, Libby or RBdigital apps will be available, but you will not be able to perform any actions that require checking into your library account.

The maintenance is expected to take approximately one hour.

Service Update: Hold Wait Times

In July, patrons placed over 50,000 items on hold for pickup. Due to the increased demand for holds and in order to provide a safe, contact-less holds-pickup service, patrons will experience longer than usual wait times for holds to come ready.

Sorting Holds

How do you know when your hold is ready?

  • You will receive a holds pick-up notice by email or text.
  • You can also track the status of your holds in your library account online or in the Library App.

How long should you expect to wait for your holds to come ready?

  • Wait times for items showing in the catalog as “available” will vary but may take several weeks to fulfill.
  • Wait times for items with waiting lists are longer than usual as returned items must be quarantined for 72 hours.

What can you do to help?

  • Pick up your holds as soon as you are able, to help make room on the shelves for new holds.
  • Freeze or cancel any holds you are not interested in receiving before they come ready.

We are continually evaluating workflows to improve hold wait times. Thank you for your patience and support as we work to keep Arlington reading!

Arlington Public Library

All Holds Now Have a Pickup Location of Central Library

Central Library is currently the only available pickup location.

  • As of Monday, June 15, all holds were frozen.
  • As of Monday, June 22, all holds now automatically have a pickup location of Central Library.

To receive frozen holds, log into your account and click on “thaw” next to each item that you are ready to receive.

If you do not wish to pick up your holds at Central Library, you may cancel them or keep them frozen (frozen holds keep their place in line).  Once other pickup locations are available you will be able to thaw your hold and update the pickup location.

When you place a new hold, only Central Library will be an option for holds pickup until Branch locations reopen for holds pickup.

Download the Library App