Fredericksburg Area Libraries Resume Holds, Returns On Materials

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Residents can now resume holds at the library branches in the Central Rappahannock Regional Library system that are allowing curbside pickup. Patrons can place holds on physical materials like books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs and collect those items using the library's curbside pickup service.

Starting July 8, the library also will resume accepting returns of materials at branches that are offering curbside pickup. As the library begins to allow returns again, they will be accepted only during curbside pickup hours to avoid overflowing bookdrops and to allow time to quarantine materials for everyone's safety, CRRL said Wednesday.

CRRL said it may take a week or more for customers' online accounts to reflect that items have been returned. But the library system assured patrons that late fees will not be assessed due to the restrictions placed on returning items starting in late March.

A week ago, as part of the gradual reopening of the library system, CRRL was only allowing patrons to pick up items that they had previously put on hold. The curbside pickup of these items was allowed during limited hours on specific days.

"Central Rappahannock Regional Library's no-contact curbside pickup service has been so successful that the library can now resume holds and returns to give customers full access to the collection," the library system said Wednesday in a news release.

The library is now giving patrons full access to its collection now that it has cleared out the backlog of hold requests. The earlier guideline requesting that customers use curbside pickup on specific days based on their last name is no longer necessary, CRRL said.

The library system has put together a video tutorial on how to manage their hold queues to prioritize items that are most desired.

Curbside pickup is not available at Towne Centre Branch, Fried Center Branch, or the Friends of the Library Bookshop. Patrons can change their pickup location from one of those branches to a branch offering curbside pickup.

CRRL has not provided a timeframe when library branches may reopen. Other library systems across Virginia have reopened their library branches. The Loudoun County Public Library system, for example, reopened last Wednesday with limited services.

"Patrons are thrilled to access new books and movies, and have been overwhelmingly cooperative regarding restrictions," a Loudoun County library spokeswoman told Patch in an email. "About half of our customers still prefer curbside pickup over coming inside to get their holds, citing safety and convenience. ... It’s encouraging to see library staff rise to the challenge safely through innovation and adaptability."

CRRL and other library systems are waiting to reopen their library branches as they monitor the coronavirus crisis.

"The library is expanding our services as conditions allow, while prioritizing customer and staff safety," CRRL Community Engagement Manager Sean Bonney said in an email. "We are continuing to keep branches closed to customers until we are certain we can fully reopen safely. We will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in our area."

The CRRL has 10 branches and serves as the library system for the counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, Caroline, and the city of Fredericksburg.

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