Five Arlington Public Library locations reopened to patrons on Tuesday for unlimited browsing time with no capacity limits. Those libraries are Aurora Hills, Central, Shirlington, Westover, and the newly renovated Columbia Pike library.

Patrons will be required to follow the county’s face covering policy, which requires that people five years and older wear face coverings in county buildings if they’re unable to maintain six feet of social distance.

The locations will give patrons access to full library collections with no time limit on browsing. People will be allowed to use spaced seating and library Wi-Fi, and copiers and scanners will be available for use at all open locations except Westover. The public will also have access to library restrooms and water fountains.

The library system will end its Express Library Service model, which allowed patrons to browse for up to 30 minutes and pick up items on hold at the Shirlingon and Westover locations.

Arlington Public Library will reintroduce more offerings in the summer and fall. Starting Aug. 6, patrons will have access to public PCs and will be able to book meeting spaces. Indoor programming will expand as library staff levels increase.

Starting in the fall, Sunday hours will return, and the volunteer bookstore supporting the library — Friends of the Arlington Public Library — will reopen.

The library system will also work to increase its staffing levels to pre-pandemic levels. In the press release announcing the July 6 branch openings, the library system said it’s “been steadily working all spring to fill a high number of vacant public service jobs after an unprecedented staff shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent hiring freeze.”

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Arlington Public Library suspended its library services on March 17, 2020. And a year ago, the public library system eliminated overdue fines in an effort to make borrowing library books more accessible.

“Every member of our community has a right to library services and library fines and fees are known barriers to use,” said Diane Kresh, Director of Arlington Public library, in the press release announcing the end of overdue fines. “We are pleased that we can eliminate these long- standing barriers and continue our mission to reach everyone regardless of their socioeconomic background.”

The Aurora Hills, Central, Columbia Pike Shirlington and Westover branches will be open on the following schedule:

• Monday/Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Friday/Saturday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Library systems throughout the region are continuing to reopen. Fairfax County Public Library resumed normal services on June 5. D.C. increased its visiting capacity at 21 locations in June, and visitors can stay for up to 70 minutes. Last month, Montgomery County opened six of its 22 locations, and Prince George’s County reopened most branches.