Say goodbye to library fines, Arlington Heights. As of Saturday, January 2, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library is officially fine free.

What does this mean for any existing overdue fines  you may have had? If you had library fines on your account in 2020, they were waived on January 2.

“The focus has shifted to simply getting the materials back on time and continuing to allow access to the library,” said Executive Director Mike Driskell.

Customers are still responsible for returning library items as borrowing privileges will be suspended when an item is 14 days overdue, meaning their library card will no longer be

Library items can be picked closer to home through the bookmobile's new contactless hold pickup system. You can place a hold online for any one of our 24 regularly scheduled bookmobile stops. When you arrive to pick up your hold, text us at 847-533-2000 with your first and last name and we will text you back when your items are on the outdoor table next to the bookmobile ready for pickup. Your holds will already be checked out to your library card. Click here to learn more about the bookmobile's schedule.

You can also pick up holds at the

Holiday Books, Movies and More
Looking to get into the holiday spirit? Check out the book and movie lists we've compiled - these books and movies will bring you feelings of comfort and joy in no time!

Holiday eMoviesHoliday eBooks/eAudiobooksHoliday MusicHoliday BooksHoliday MoviesBest of 2020 Book Lists
Not sure what book to read next? Check out our Best of 2020 book lists - our very own Readers Advisors have put together their own lists just for you!Alisa's Best of 2020Joan's Best of 2020Jon's Best of 2020Lucy's Best of 2020Neal's Best

Hold pickup is currently available from the drive-up window, the in-library hold shelves. and the bookmobile. 

• For your safety, only customers in vehicles can be helped at the drive-up.
• Pedestrians, please visit the checkout desk inside the library or contact accessibility@ahml.info or call (847) 870-3642. for assistance. 

If you've already been notified your items are ready for pickup and would like to change your preferred pickup location, contact us via chat or email at questions@ahml.info, by calling 847-392-0100 or by going to your My Account webpage at ahml.info and selecting Request Pickup Location Change.

Drive-up window serviceMasks required for drive-up

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is pleased to offer a special library card for current and former members of the United States Armed Forces. In addition to offering the same benefits as standard resident library cards, this card also allows the cardholder to print up to the cost equivalent of 100 black and white letter pages per week at no charge, and will not accrue overdue fines.

Learn more here.

Fans of the historical fiction novel The Secrets We Kept took a closer look into the history behind the book with its author Lara Prescott on Thursday evening, November 12. An Evening with Lara Prescott was the signature event for this fall’s One Book, One Village (OBOV), the Arlington Heights Memorial Library’s (AHML) annual community read. 

It was also the first time the library held a virtual One Book, One Village signature author event, leading to AHML welcoming its largest audience to date for an online program with more than 390 people in attendance via Zoom.

The Secrets We Kept

More than 5,900 participants representing 11 area public libraries came together virtually on Monday evening, November 9 to listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, one of the country's leading anti-racist voices, New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award winner and historian, as he discussed his book, How To Be An Antiracist. Kendi, selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020, engaged in conversation with WBEZ’s award-winning journalist Natalie Moore in this multi-library, live Zoom event.

How To Be An Antiracist explores what an anti-racist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it

Resources for Job Seekers

• National Able Network
• Career Resource Center
• Harper College Job Placement Resource Center
• Illinois WorkNet (Arlington Heights Location)
• Illinois WorkNet (main site)
• Jewish Vocational Services
• Northwest Compass 
• St. Hubert's Job & Networking Ministry
• Path to Career Readiness
  • Join the library's self-directed Path to Career Readiness program. This is a self-paced set of online and in-library activities designed to help new and returning job seekers develop effective resumes/cover letters, interview skills and workplace competencies. More information.

• Please note: Some of the agencies provided have temporarily suspended services. Check their websites for updates. 

Resources for Unemployed Individuals 

This month, we celebrate Inclusion Awareness Month and recognize our commitment to serving individuals of all abilities in our community. Our goal is to connect you to resources, services, programs and invite your feedback and ideas. While this year it may be more challenging to get together, we can still express our commitment to inclusion, and are excited to share a community art project and upcoming virtual programming.

Our commitment to inclusion is ongoing, and we want to hear from you! To tell us more about your needs and ideas, contact us via comment cards available in the library, at