To provide services while practicing social distancing, Arlington libraries are now offering curbside pickup.
Patrons can place holds on the library website and can choose to be notified by phone call, email or text. Then they can visit the location to pick up their item from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
All items will be quarantined for 72 hours before being released for checkout.
There are seven libraries in the city, typically serving about 1.5 million patrons each year.
Arlington is under a shelter-in-place order until at least April 30, which limits business activity and public gatherings.
Borrowers can call the library once they’re outside to initiate the pickup. The library will ask for their card number and leave the items on a table inside, which will be cleaned after each pickup.
When it’s time to return the items, borrowers can put them in the outdoor book drop.
While the library is offering this pickup service, it will allow anyone with fines of up to $100 to continue to check out books to provide access to more patrons.
Laptops, reference books and large items that will not fit through the outdoor return will not be available for checkout.
The Arlington library system also offers digital access to audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, academic services and foreign language courses.
Arlington, Kennedale and Mansfield residents can obtain a library card online or by calling the library at 817-459-6900 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Here at the Arlington Public Library, we always strive to remove barriers to access in our community,” director of libraries Norma Zuñiga said in a news release. “Curbside pickup will provide materials to patrons who are at home, especially for families with children who cannot return to school.”
