Watch CBS News

Enoch Pratt Free Library Reopens 21 Locations At 25% Capacity

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Enoch Pratt Free Library reopened 21 of their library locations Monday at 25% capacity. It's the first time they have opened their doors to the public this year.

Among the library's Central Branch first visitors was Matt.

Enoch Pratt Library reopens 3.8.21
21 branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library reopened Monday with a number of changes in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's great to be back!" he said.

Matt was one of the many excited to be back inside the library.

Things at the library are a little different.

"You can see we have this plastic shielding," library spokesperson Meghan McCorkell said. "All the chairs are removed because we're asking people not to stay and lounge here."

For the past year, Pratt Library has been trying to provide services virtually like adding drive-in Wi-Fi in some locations.

"So people could drive into the parking lot and access free Wi-Fi around the clock," McCorkell said, knowing how many rely on their services.

"It's very hard to find spaces where people don't expect you to spend money," said one visitor.

"It was really vital for us to reopen and get people back on the computers so they can apply to get a vaccine appointment, so that they can apply for unemployment, they can look for jobs," McCorkell said.

If you plan on visiting, you will have to give them your name and contact information for contact tracing purposes. They will also take your temperature.

To learn about the updated hours and which locations are reopening, 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.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.