Central Library is open for holds pickup only.
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Shirlington and Westover are open for Express Library Service.
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Online events and socially-distanced programs for all ages.
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Need help? Read our FAQs or contact us.
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News and Alerts
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All Library Locations and Services Closed June 18-19 in Honor of Juneteenth
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.
Read More
Aurora Hills, Columbia Pike and Central Library to Reopen July 6
With Summer Reading in full swing, Arlington Public Library is prioritizing expansion of in-person service and increased access to library collections this summer.
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Library Service During COVID
At Central Library Holds Pickup:
- Holds pickup in the Auditorium.
- Basic account services - Sign up for a library card, verify new library cards, and update mailing addresses.
At Shirlington and Westover Express Library Service locations:
- 30 minute, in-person browsing of Library books and media
- Holds pickup
- Check out using the self-service stations
- Physically-distanced assistance for account management and wayfinding
- Basic account services - verify new library cards and update mailing addresses.
Returns can be made in the book drops at all Library locations except for the Columbia Pike Branch, which is under construction.
- The County Visitor Face Covering Policy from the Arlington County Government website is in effect.
- Hand sanitizer is available for patrons entering and leaving the Library.
- Service points have sneeze-guard partitions.
- Staff and public spaces receive frequent and deep cleaning.
Basic account services such as applying for and renewing library cards can be handled at the auditorium service points. The process is the same as for holds pickup.
Public bathrooms are currently closed inside Central Library. Public restrooms are available on the outside of Central Library, facing the Quincy Park baseball field.
Current locations: Shirlington and Westover Branch Libraries
- 30 minute, in person browsing of Library books and media
- Holds pickup
- Check out using the self-service stations
- Physically-distanced assistance for account management and wayfinding
Learn more on our Express Library Services page.
Returns
For staffing reasons, items may not get checked in for several days after they have been returned in a book drop. If over 7 days have passed since you returned your library items and they remain on your account, please use this form to tell us which items you returned, and we’ll update your account.
Return all items in the exterior book drops at any Library location, except the Columbia Pike Branch. Any material format can be returned in the book drop, including DVDs, wireless hotspots, etc.
Returns will not be accepted in the Auditorium at Central Library.
Holds
Please read the FAQ page about Holds Pickup.
Items are “in-transit” when they have been scanned for transportation from one library location to another. Because of COVID-19 work processes, books are spending more time in-transit than normal.
Because of COVID-19 work processes, it takes extra time for your requested items to reach the hold shelves. We are unable to do shelf-checks at this time. In addition, all returned Library materials must be quarantined for 72 hours.
After thawing your holds, your place in line for each item will fluctuate as other patrons with holds on the same titles thaw or freeze their holds.
You can have 30 physical items on hold, and 10 eCollection items on hold.
Making lists in your account is a great way to keep track of more things you want to read or watch.
Central library holds pickup is in the Auditorium on the 1st floor - enter from the 10th street parking lot.
Accessibility pickup is available at Central Library for patrons with a physical accessibility issue that prevents them from using our holds-only service model. If you are in need of accessibility accommodation, you can schedule your holds pickup by calling the Library at 703-228-5990.
Accessibility pickup is not available at Express Library locations.
Please park in the surface parking lots. The parking garage is currently closed to the public.
Access to the auditorium will be metered, with patrons lining up at six-foot intervals outside Library entrance closest to the tennis courts / surface parking lot.
Once inside the auditorium, up to four service stations will be available. Library staff will retrieve your holds, check them out to you, and pass them to you with no/limited contact.
Patrons will then exit across the Auditorium, through the doors onto the garden porch and walk down the pathway to the parking lot.
Library bathrooms are closed. Public restrooms are available on the outside of Central Library, facing the Quincy Park baseball field.
When possible, please send one household member to retrieve holds. Bring the associated library card for any holds you are picking up.
You may also use the library app to manage all the accounts from one household, and to access digital library cards for each account.
Your items will remain on the shelf for 5 days.
When placing new holds, you will be able to choose Shirlington or Westover as your pickup location.
You can also change the pickup location of items currently on hold in your library account to Shirlington or Westover.
Other
At this time, fines cannot be paid in person at the Library.
Make payments using a credit card - Log into your Library account and go to Fines and Messages.
Mail payment by check or money order - Make payable to Treasurer of Arlington County and include library card number. Mail to: Central Library, Attention: Circulation, 1015 N. Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201
We regret that we cannot accept donations at any Library location at this time.
The Friends of the Arlington Public Library loves our supportive library community and greatly appreciate your desire to give us your gently used books, puzzles, games, CDs and DVDs.
Unfortunately, they cannot accept your donations at this time as:
- We do not have the space to store donations.
- The Friends and the Library do not have staff or volunteers to sort them.
- We cannot add staff or volunteers due to space/social distancing concerns.
- We do not know when the next book sale will be held and have no other mechanism for selling donations.
Until the Friends are able to accept donations again, all items left at the Library will be recycled. Please wait to make book donations until we are able to process them again.
If you want to support the Library and the Friends, please visit the Friends of the Arlington Public Library website to learn about other ways to help.
The Library is unable to accommodate volunteers during this phase of reopening. We will welcome our volunteers back as soon as we can safely do so.
Do you need to wear a mask at the Library? Please read the County Visitor Face Covering Policy on the Arlington County Government Website.
