If they were hard and dry out of the package, they are no good and you should return them to the store. They are supposed to contain living soil microbes and should be moist when you get them home.
If you have to use dry ones, then yes, soak them in tap water and then squeeze the excess water out so they are just damp.
Now you are talking about the product that is composted bark and looks like a sponge, not the one that is compressed peat and looks like a small hockey puck, right?