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Robbins Library reached a remarkable milestone in FY25. Library patrons checked out 1,016,846 physical and digital items from Robbins and Fox Branch Libraries, making Arlington one of only five Massachusetts communities to break the million mark in checkouts.
Arlington reached this landmark because of a true passion for libraries and library materials in Town. Library patrons consistently rank “accessing library materials” as the top reason for visiting the Robbins and Fox Branch Libraries. Hitting the million mark is a true achievement for our community of readers and library lovers. Arlington is surpassed only by the much larger communities of Boston, Cambridge, Newton and Brookline. Robbins Library’s strong circulation means that residents checked out more materials in Arlington than the residents of much larger communities including neighboring Somerville and Medford.
This milestone comes after years of growing circulation. Arlington’s library patrons are heavy users of digital materials, including downloadable ebooks and audiobooks. Coupled with increases in use of physical collections including books, Robbins Library sees year-after-year growth in use of library collections.
Director of Libraries Anna Litten says, “It’s a real joy for staff to serve the community in Arlington. Library staff aim to provide collections that meet the evolving needs and interests of our community. Our staff know that books and other library materials will be well-used and well-loved by the voracious readers of Arlington.”