The Montgomery County Public Libraries system will expand hours of branch service to include Sundays, effective February 27, officials announced yesterday.
The Sunday hours of operation at all MCPL branches, except Maggie Nightingale in Poolesville and the Noyes Library for Young Children in Kensington, will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The hours and schedule will remain as they stand for the Noyes branch and the Maggie Nightingale branch, which is currently closed for a refresh.
“We are pleased to be able to resume Sunday service hours,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo in a press release. “It is important that all residents have equal access to the resources and services provided by Public Libraries.”
Sunday hours were set to return on January 2, but MCPL officials delayed the expansion of operating hours in late December, citing the increased spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.
“I am pleased to announce the continued expansion of hours to beyond pre-pandemic levels,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our library system and employees have been an invaluable asset to our COVID response and recovery efforts over the last two years. They have successfully adjusted their operations, schedules, and how they serve the community. Most recently, their efforts to help us distribute take home rapid tests and N95 masks was a demonstration of their effectiveness and dedication to our residents. I also want to thank our patrons and supporters of our libraries for their patience as we worked to ensure that these facilities are COVID-19 safe and accessible for both visitors and employees.”
Photo: “File:Silver Spring Library 9-23-16.jpg” by Abby Norling-Ruggles is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0