Q. What is the process for holds pickup? 

Patrons will line up at six-foot intervals outside library entrance closest to the tennis courts / surface parking lot. Access to the auditorium will be metered. Once inside the auditorium, three 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 exit across the Auditorium, through the doors onto the garden porch and walk down the pathway to the parking lot.
Restrooms will not be available to the public.

Q. What is the process for account services? 

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.

Q. Will the library limit the size of families/groups? 

When possible, please send one household member to retrieve holds. Please 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.

Q. I have a condition that prevents me from standing in line. How can I get my holds? 

If you are in need of accessibility accommodation, you can schedule your holds pickup by calling the Library at 703-228-5990.

Q. How long will my holds remain at Central for pickup once I am notified that they are available? 

Until further notice, holds will remain on the shelf for 10 days.

Q.  I currently have a hold on my account that is ready for pickup (on the hold shelf since before the closure). How can I receive it? 

All holds that were ready for pickup prior to the closure have been moved to the Auditorium at Central Library. These holds will be available for pickup on June 15 and will be held for 10 days. If you do not wish to collect your hold you do not need to contact the library; all holds will be automatically reshelved after 10 days.

Q. What about the holds on my account that are not yet ready? 

All holds placed before June 15 have been frozen, and as of June 22 the pickup location has been changed to Central (the only available location). Frozen holds keep their place in line but do not come ready.

To receive your holds at Central, log into your account and click on "thaw" next to each item that you are ready to receive.

You may also cancel any holds you no longer want or need.

Q. I thawed my holds, and now I'm number 1 for a number of items that had long wait times... What happened?

After thawing your holds, your placement in line for each item will fluctuate as other patrons with holds on the same titles thaw or freeze their holds.

Q. I have holds that were previously set for pick up at a location besides Central Library. 

As of June 22, all holds set to pick up at other locations have been set to Central Library. To receive these 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) until your preferred location reopens for pickup service. At that time you will need to thaw the hold.

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

Q. How long will it take for my holds to come in? 

There will be a delay in filling many holds as all returned Library materials will be quarantined upon return for 72 hours.

Q. How many holds can I have on my account? 

You can have as many as 30 holds at a time in any status (ready, frozen, not ready, etc.).