Second Anne Arundel library employee in 2 weeks of reopening tests postive for coronavirus in Glen Burnie

An employee of the Glen Burnie Library has tested positive for coronavirus — the second Anne Arundel County Public Library staff member to test positive in two weeks of the system reopening.

Library spokeswoman Christine Feldmann said the system was notified of the positive test by the employee Thursday afternoon. That person was last in the branch on Saturday, Feldmann said, and was asymptomatic at that point. The test that came back positive was taken over the weekend, Feldmann said.

The county health department is working with the library to start contact tracing and did not advise the branch to close, Feldmann said, as the system is following procedures to stay safe. Health department officials did not respond for comment.

The positive case comes a day after the new Michael E. Busch library opened in Annapolis. Feldmann said she is still confident in libraries being safe for indoor service.

“We are making our decisions based on medical advice based on facts and data and not on emotion and we will continue to do so as time goes on,” Feldmann said.

Two county librarians voiced concerns about possible cleaning supply and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages but didn’t want to be identified after they reached out following an Odenton Regional Library staff member testing positive last week.

Anne Arundel is the third Maryland public library system to open its doors during the pandemic, next to The Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County and the Somerset County Library.