Athens Regional Library System

Closed to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

Our buildings and book drops will be closed Monday, January 18, 2021, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, January 19.

Please visit your library branch's website for the latest hours and services. Call us or contact us at http://athenslibrary.org/homepage/regional-information/contact-us if you have any questions regarding library service during this time. For more information about the libraries' phased re-entry plans, please click here.   

PINES update scheduled for this weekend, Jan. 16-19

The PINES catalog is scheduled to be updated this weekend and will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Saturday, January 16 through 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 19, 2021. During this time, you will still be able to access our digital collection of e-books, audiobooks and magazines. However, you will be unable to search the Pines catalog online, renew items or place holds from home, sign up for a new library card or pay fines. 

View this short video to learn more about the changes you'll see with the update:
 https://my.nicheacademy.com/pines/course/24149

Make a difference in your community with a library career!

Have you ever thought about working at the library? It’s a great way to serve your community in a fulfilling career. We have 11 locations in Athens-Clarke, Franklin, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties and offer a range of full-time and part-time positions in a safe, creative and fun environment.

Check our employment opportunities page to learn about current job openings in the Athens Regional Library System. 

La Biblioteca de Pinewoods anuncia nuevas horas de servicio en la acera (In English)

La Biblioteca de Pinewoods, localizada en 1465 Highway 29 North Lot F-12, anuncia sus nuevas horas de servicio en la acera de lunes a jueves entre 12 pm y  4pm.  Pueden reservar materiales a través de la página web, usando el móvil app de PINES, o llamando al 706-613-3708, y luego pueden visitar la biblioteca para recoger sus materiales durante nuestras horas de servicio en la acera. Tenemos kits de destrezas manuales para niños y adolescentes disponibles durante nuestras horas de servicio.

Zoo Atlanta DVD is available again 

We are thrilled to announce that the Zoo Atlanta DVD is again available for checkout starting Monday, December 7, 2020. This means you can check out the Zoo Atlanta DVD and receive a pass for free admission to Zoo Atlanta when you return the DVD to the library: Check out the Zoo Atlanta DVD for up to seven days. When you return the DVD, you will receive a zoo pass receipt. When you return the DVD, do NOT put it in the outdoor bookdrop. If you return the DVD during curbside service hours, call the posted phone number and explain that you’re here to return the DVD and get your pass receipt.  If you return the DVD during Grab and Go service hours, bring the DVD to the circulation desk (return all other items to the outdoor bookdrop). The pass receipt is redeemable Monday through Friday only. The pass is redeemable for three (3) free admissions. You have four weeks (28 days) to use your pass from the date the pass was issued. Be sure to check with the Zoo for updates before you visit: Know Before You Visit or call 404.624.9453 (WILD)

Updated Services

As part of its phased reentry plan, the Athens Regional Library System continues to expand its available services while protecting the health and safety of patrons and staff.

Grab and Go: Many Athens Regional Library System branches now offer Grab and Go service. Patrons can visit their library branch to browse parts of the collection, place and pick up holds, and check out items. Unvented face masks are required. Visits are limited to one hour or less. Some branches will limit visits to 30 minutes or less. Check your local library branch’s webpage for hours here.  

Curbside Service: Place holds at our website, through the PINES mobile app, in-person at your library, or by phone. We’ll notify you when your items are ready for pickup. Our libraries also offer curbside print pickup. Email your document to your local Athens Regional Library System branch, and we’ll notify you when it’s ready for pickup! Learn more about print pickup and find your library’s printing email here

Concierge Service: Not sure what to read next? Do you or your child want to learn more about a particular topic? Want to discover a new favorite author based on books you know you already like? Try our concierge service! Call us, and our friendly, knowledgeable staff will gather titles for you based on your interests for curbside pickup.

Book Drops: Please return checked out items to our outdoor book drops only. We’ll hold all returned items in quarantine before checking them in, which means your return won’t show up on your account right away. Don’t worry! No fines will be charged if you’ve returned items by their original due date. Fines for overdue items resumed on Saturday, October 10, 2020. Please note, our libraries are not accepting donations for the time being.

Computers: Need to use a computer? Stop in during Grab and Go hours to use a computer with no appointment needed! One-hour appointments are available during curbside service hours at select branches. Reserve your one-hour session by calling your local branch library. Please note you will be required to wear an unventilated face mask while at the library, and limited staff assistance will be available. Printing services will be available. For more information, click here. 

Athens-Clarke County Library: Passports:  The Athens-Clarke County Library accepts passport applications by appointment. Please call the library at 706-613-3650 to set up your appointment. Saturday appointments are available! 

• Please note appointments must be made via phone.
• Masks must be worn.
• Only the applicants should be present.

Please check their website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html for the most current information.

Crafts to Go: Stop by your library during curbside service hours to pick up everything you need for a fun craft activity designed for children ages 2-11. A new craft is available every two weeks while supplies last, and each branch has different crafts.

Resources That Promote Equity

The Athens Regional Library System embraces diversity, inclusion, and social justice. These are a part of our organizational values and at the heart of our public services. We support the members of our communities who are in pain, those who are on a quest to educate themselves around the issues of race, and those wondering how to talk with children and young people about these issues. To help with those endeavors, we have developed the following list of resources. We will be adding to this list as the days go by. Much like the challenging events our communities have experienced over the last three months, the Library believes that we are in this together, and together we will see our way through. Visit our resources here. 

Share your family's experiences as part of our library's community archive

Are you keeping a journal of your experiences during the coronavirus pandemic? Did you post a photo on social media of empty shelves at the grocery store? Whether you’re writing in an old school diary or recording voice memos, everyone's experience is unique. The Heritage Room at Athens-Clarke County Library wants to help preserve our community’s story of this unprecedented time in our collective history. We are interested in stories from everyday people. No story is too small! How you collect your thoughts is up to you: write in a journal, take photos or videos, record voice memos or even save social media posts. Full details are available here using a Google account. If you don't have a Google account, use this link.