Photo: Daniel Meigs
In the Nashville Public Library downtown, kids sit near short shelves, reaching for books. A few people have staked out spots on every floor, mostly by the windows facing downtown. Families pass through the foyer, and librarians sort through stacks of returns.
This may look like an ordinary scene, but for many, it marks the end of a long period of eager anticipation. After more than a year, the library has opened again for in-person services.
On March 31, the Nashville Public Library reopened three large locations: the Main Library, the Madison Branch and the Southeast Branch. Inside, masks are required; there are also sanitizing stations, spaced-out furniture and reminders to keep six feet apart. But even so, the library feels familiar: You can go in, browse the shelves, use public computers, and sit and read.
The Nashville Public Library officially…