Survey Says: March/April 2026

Last year, a patron survey yielded many questions about library services.  Last month we talked about wait time for e-materials.  This month we’ll explain the checkout time for various resources.

Q: Why is there a different checkout period for traditional materials versus e-books, e-audiobooks  and other electronic resources? 

While most physical library materials can be checked out for 21 days, electronic resources will vary by platform.  For most items borrowed using Libby, the library reading app, the checkout time is 14 days and is set by the Blue Ridge Download Consortium, of which Fauquier Public Library is a member.  The shorter checkout period allows for more patrons to check out materials and helps cut down on waiting periods.  The Consortium, made up of 12 other Virginia libraries, combines its resources to provide a collection of materials through OverDrive, a major platform/distributor to libraries for popular e-audiobook and e-books. 

E-magazines, also available through Libby, check out for 21 days.

Learn more about checkout times for Kanopy and Hoopla which differ based on content.