As more than 68,000 homes in Montgomery County still do not have electricity following last Friday’s severe summer storm, County officials have announced that they will open four libraries and community centers on Wednesday, July 4 to provide residents with a respite from the expected high temperatures. Typically, most County facilities are closed in observance of the 4th of July holiday.

The following libraries and community recreation centers will be open during their normal operating hours as cooling, drop-in locations:

• Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring, 240-777-6820 – open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• White Oak Community Recreation Center, 240-777-6940 – open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., 240-777-0970 – open from noon to 8 p.m.

• Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Ave., 240-777-0678 – open from noon to 8 p.m.

The County is also operating a cooling shelter for those residents who are still without power in their homes at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville. Due to a decrease in demand for overnight cooling shelters in the County, as power continues to be restored to area residences, the White Oak Community Recreation Center at 1700 April Lane, is no longer needed to provide 24-hour shelter accommodations and will close at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3. The White Oak Community Recreation Center will continue to operate today and tomorrow during its regularly scheduled hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition, the Germantown Aquatic Center in the South Germantown Regional Park, 18000 Central Park Circle, Boyds, will remain open on July 4 until 6 p.m. All other aquatic centers and outdoor pools will operate on normal schedules on July 4.

The County’s MC311 Call Center will remain open on July 4 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reach the MC311 Call Center by calling 311 or visiting www.mc311.com.