ELDERSBURG, Md. — Reading has rarely brought such excitement.
“Finally, we can do something in the library,” said eight-year-old Miriam Manas as she emerged from the Eldersburg branch with two books in hand.
With the public libraries in Carroll County reopening this week, their patrons have realized what’s been missing.
“You get to browse books that you can see and touch, instead of just trying to gen up ideas from your imagination, and the people were so nice. They recognized the kids. We’ve been coming here for years,” said Eric Manas, Miriam’s father who also had his five-year-old Ezra in tow.
The library system’s executive director, Andrea Berstler, says the reaction to the reopening has been amazing.
“We had just over 1200 people who showed up yesterday at the six locations, and we are serving a lot of people who are crossing over the county lines,” said Berstler. “Howard County, Baltimore County, Frederick County---they’re not quite open yet.”
In a sense, the library has remained open throughout the pandemic.
You just couldn’t go into the building, and the various branches will continue to offer brown bag, pick up and drop off service for those hesitant to return.
But with new protocols in place, the libraries in Carroll County are back in business restoring a touch of life as normal during these abnormal times.
“Everyone was wearing their masks,” said Eldersburg Branch Manager Nadine Rosendale. “No one felt scared or like they needed to get out of here. It was a very safe environment and it was just joyful and I lived it. I loved the whole day.”
If you have any concern over shared books potentially spreading the coronavirus, here at the library system, they’re taking books that are returned and quarantining them for six days before anyone else can check them out.
