Anne Arundel County Libraries Reducing In-Person Hours, Citing 'Hundreds' Of Instances Of Visitors Not Wearing Masks, Social Distancing
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Anne Arundel County Public Library branches will reduce in-person hours in favor of curbside and digital service next week, officials said Thursday.
Beginning Monday, all 16 branches will move to a curbside model with some virtual services available, including wireless printing and outdoor Wi-Fi.
The move comes after staff members documented "hundreds" of instances of visitors not wearing masks or following social distancing rules. The county's health department also reportedly voiced concerns about the virus being transmitted in staff workrooms.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:
- Coronavirus Resources: How To Get Help In Maryland
- TIMELINE: Coronavirus In Maryland, Tracking The Spread
- Latest coronavirus stories from WJZ
- Latest CDC Guidelines
"Since opening on July 6, our staff have experienced unacceptable behavior from a small number of customers who refuse to follow laws on mask usage and social distancing," AACPL CEO Skip Auld said in a news release. "Some library employees have even been cursed at and breathed on in a deliberate attempt to do them harm. Our staff must be able to feel safe in order to successfully operate our libraries."
In-person services are set to resume September 8.
For the latest information, click here.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
