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Curbside Services

Curbside Service @ PGCMLS

Curbside hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, Saturday 1-5 pm.

Baden hours are Wednesday-Thursday 2-6 pm, and Friday 11-2 pm.

While the library buildings remain closed, we are committed to providing safe access to physical library materials through a curbside pickup service at many of our libraries.

  • Customers who have reserved materials and have been notified that their holds are available for pickup can make an appointment. Materials will be held for three (3) days from the time the hold notification is received.
  • Please use the library book drop to return your materials. Staff will not handle book returns. 
  • Returned materials will be quarantined for three (3) days before being placed back in circulation. There are no fees being incurred. Returned items will be cleared from accounts within five (5) days.
  • Masks must be worn by all visitors picking up materials (whether in a vehicle or on foot).
  • All buildings, including restrooms, remain closed to the public while we are offering curbside service.
  • Mobile printing is now available at select branches for curbside service. Learn more.

If you have a virtual card (starting with "PACREG") you will not be able to check out materials via curbside. If you want to use curbside you must have your virtual card converted. Please call (301) 699-3500 and ask for Public Services or contact us here.

PGCMLS Phased Reopening Plan

Book Bundles! There are two (2) easy options: 

  1. Ask for materials expertly picked by our staff based on desired age/grade, genre, or topic.
  2. Ask for a more customized experience. Library staff will contact you to create your bundle.
     

Please let us know how we can best serve you by carefully filling out the form on the bookings page.
If follow-up is required, please book your appointment at least four (4) days in advance. Allow three (3) days to process bundle requests. Thanks!

Branches Offering Curbside Service  (Book Drops Open)

  • Accokeek
  • Baden*
  • Beltsville*
  • Bladensburg
  • Bowie*
  • Fairmount Heights
  • Glenarden
  • Greenbelt*
  • Hillcrest Heights
  • Hyattsville*
  • Largo-Kettering
  • Laurel*
  • New Carrollton
  • Oxon Hill
  • South Bowie*
  • Spauldings
  • Upper Marlboro

* Baden, Beltsville, Bowie, Greenbelt, and Hyattsville offer walk-up service. South Bowie and Laurel Branches are drive-thru only. Baden has reduced hours of Wednesday-Thursday 2-6 pm, and Friday 11-2 pm.

Mobile printing is available at select branches: Accokeek, Bladensburg, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Hillcrest Heights, Hyattsville, New Carrollton, South Bowie, Spauldings, and Upper Marlboro. Learn more

Curbside service will continue during inclement weather unless conditions are deemed too dangerous for staff and customers. If weather or health conditions require a temporary suspension of operations, curbside service may be temporarily halted until deemed safe. Customers will receive a notification email as soon as possible when cancellations occur. 

Placing Holds

  • Place holds through the catalog, the PGCMLS app, or by calling Ask a Librarian at (240) 455-5451. Please specify at which branch you would like to pick up your materials. 
  • Holds can be picked up by appointment only. After placing a hold, you will receive a notification (via email, text message, or phone call) that your hold has been placed. Another notification will arrive when the materials have been delivered to your library of choice, prompting you to book a curbside appointment.
  • There is a check out limit of 50 items per library card, per visit. Multiple cards can be used; please indicate on the form when you book your appointment.
  • Holds will expire after seven (7) business days. If you cannot make your appointment, please make sure to call Ask a Librarian and make a second appointment within that seven (7) day window. 
  • We recommend using the catalog to find materials at your preferred branch whenever possible. This will speed up the process of getting your materials.
  • If you have a virtual card (starting with "PACREG") you will not be able to check out materials via curbside. If you want to use curbside you must have your virtual card converted. Please call (301) 699-3500 and ask for Public Services or contact us here.

Appointments can only be made once holds are ready for pickup. For assistance placing holds, please call Ask a Librarian at (240) 455-5451. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm.

Booking Your Appointment

Once you have received confirmation that your holds are ready, you will be provided with a link to book your curbside appointment. You will have seven (7) days to pick up your materials once you have been notified. 

  • Once you begin booking your curbside appointment, please be aware that hold pick-up procedures are slightly different at each location. Details will appear below the calendar once a location is selected.
  • Choose a date and time.
  • To complete the reservation, follow the prompts to enter your name, email address, telephone number, library card number, and car information (if applicable).
  • You will receive an on-screen confirmation of your reservation as well as an email confirmation.

For assistance, please call PGCMLS Ask a Librarian at (240) 455-5451, Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm. 

Drive-up Services

For the safety and protection of you and library staff, masks must be worn by customers and passengers picking up materials, whether in a vehicle or on foot.

  • Please arrive at your scheduled pickup time and pull into a spot marked for curbside pickup. Please be aware that Laurel and South Bowie are drive thru only.
  • If you have materials to return, please drop them off them directly to the outdoor book drops.
  • Staff may not accept returns by hand. Please call if accommodations are desired. You can reach PGCMLS Ask a Librarian (240) 455-5451.
  • Please have your library card information or ID ready for verification.  
  • Release your trunk or hatch if possible, or open your back door or window please. 
  • Library staff will greet you at the time of your appointment. Items and a check out receipt will be delivered directly to your car by staff wearing masks and gloves.   
  • Please close your trunk or window after staff step away. 
  • Thank you!

If you are arriving on foot or by bicycle, we will place the materials on a nearby table.

Walk-Up Services

Baden, Beltsville, Bowie, Greenbelt, and Hyattsville offer walk-up service.. Please note that there is no free public parking at the Hyattsville temporary location at 6502 America Blvd. For the safety and protection of you and library staff, masks must be worn by customers picking up materials, whether in a vehicle or on foot.

  • Look for the designated walk-up area in front of the library entrance and remember to follow physical distancing guidelines. 
  • Staff will meet you with your materials at the pick-up time that was reserved.
  • Have your library card information or ID ready for verification. 
  • Items and a checkout receipt will be delivered and placed on the table by staff wearing masks and gloves.
  • If you have materials to return, please deposit them directly in the outdoor book drop. Staff may not accept returns by hand. Please call our Ask a Librarian call center if accommodations are desired.

Dropping Off

If you are only dropping off materials, please park in any unmarked parking space that is not reserved for curbside pickup. Please follow physical distancing protocols when returning materials to the book drops. Thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions

If your hold is ready and you have received the confirmation notification email/phone call/text, please visit the webpage listed in the confirmation email on a computer or smart phone to book your appointment. If you do not have a smart phone, please reach out to our call center at (240) 455-5451. Beginning July 21, hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm.

You may check the status of your holds by logging in to your library account and clicking on Requests.

You can elect to receive hold notifications by email, text, or automated phone call. You may change your preferences by logging in to your library account and clicking on My Account -> My Record -> Contact Information -> Preferences to revise your settings. We recommend receiving email or text notifications versus phone calls, as you will be provided with a link to book your curbside appointment.

If you have a virtual card (starting with "PACREG") you will not be able to check out materials via curbside. If you want to use curbside you must have your virtual card converted. Please call 301-699-3500 and ask for Public Services or contact us here.

Materials are checked out to your account on the same day as your appointment, as determined by branch staff.

If you are unable to keep the appointment, then staff will manually extend the pickup date for the remainder of the initial seven days. Please call ahead of time if you know you are unable to make the appointment. Our call center can be reached at (240) 455-5451 and hours are hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm.

Any item on the holdshelf prior to closing will be held through July 28. You will be receiving a notification to book your appointment.

All returns must be made in book drops located on the exterior of branches. Staff cannot handle your returned materials.

Please do not clean the materials. Cleaning products may damage items. Per CDC guidelines all materials are quarantined for 96 hours once returned. 

Please keep these materials at home until notified. No fees are being incurred for these items and items are not due back until September 1. We are now fine-free.

All fees are suspended as of March 16 through September 1. Fees incurred before March 16 (damaged, missing materials/replacement costs) are still due and at this time can only be paid through our website.

Per CDC guidelines, all returned materials need to be in quarantine for 3 days before being checked in and processed. There are no fees being incurred. Returned items will be cleared from accounts in up to 5 days.

If your holds are in a queue, you can simply sign in to your account and cancel your request. If you have any questions, please reach out to our call center at (240) 455-5451. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-6 pm, and Saturday 1-5 pm.

You can either add a comment on the bookings page when you are making your appointment or return the materials directly after you pick them up (you would need to request them again). All returns must be made to the outdoor book drop and cannot be accepted by library staff.

We are not accepting any donations of materials for the foreseeable future.

The Library is working closely with health officials and the County Government to determine when we are able to reopen with new parameters and guidelines. Updates will continue to be available on our website at https://www.pgcmls.info/reopening.