Montgomery County To Reopen 6 Library Branches, 2 Senior Centers

ROCKVILLE, MD — After more than a year of coronavirus-related shutdowns, Montgomery County is preparing to reopen six library branches and two senior centers next month.

The following library branches will reopen on Tuesday, June 1:

• Connie Morella Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda
• Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg
• Marilyn J. Praisner Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
• Olney Library, 3500 Olney-Laytonsville Rd., Olney
• Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville
• Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring

The following senior centers will reopen on Monday, June 14:

• Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring
• Damascus Senior Center, 9701 Main St., Damascus

"Our library and senior center staff have provided valuable services and resources to our residents throughout this pandemic — in both traditional and innovative ways," County Executive Marc Elrich said. "As our residents and employees are reaching safe thresholds of vaccination, we are ready to begin reopening our library buildings and senior centers for in-person activities and engagement."

Libraries will be open on an appointment basis for those browsing and checking out materials, picking up items on hold, and using computers and printers. Collaboration, study, meeting, and discovery rooms will not be available.

"All of us at Montgomery County Public Libraries are pleased to take this step towards safely resuming in-branch services to our community members," said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. "Although the digital resources, virtual programs, and 'Holds To Go' service provided by our dedicated staff were incredibly popular over the past year, we know how much the residents of the County value being able to visit their public libraries, and we are looking forward to welcoming people back to our buildings."

Operating hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Additional information will be posted on the MCPL website as it becomes available.

The county's recreation department runs seven senior centers, including the two that are opening next month. Recreation director Robin Riley says reopening these facilities has been one of the county's "highest priorities."

"COVID-19 has been hard for everyone and our seniors are one of the hardest hit groups," she said. "Throughout the pandemic we have successfully provided virtual programs and outdoor programs, and now we can safely begin the reopening of the Holiday Park and Damascus Senior Centers."

The Wheaton and White Oak senior centers will continue to be COVID-19 vaccine sites, while the Long Branch Senior Center will continue to be a full-time homeless shelter. The Margaret Schweinhaut and North Potomac senior centers will provide summer programming for hundreds of youth until reopening fully in August.