Library Will Remain Closed on Friday, July 17

ServePro equipment in the library meeting room on Thursday afternoon - Courtesy image
ServePro equipment in the library meeting room on Thursday afternoon – Courtesy image

UPDATE: Because the clean-up of the library’s water leak is ongoing, the building will not open to the public on Friday, July 17.

Books may be deposited in the book drop, and no overdue fines will be charged. Please hold booksale donations until the library reopens to make room for the library books that need to be returned.

Click here to check the Library’s Facebook page for updates, or here for the latest word on the situation from The Bedford Citizen.

Coverage of the library story, compiled by The Bedford Citizen

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It’s a Library Director’s worst nightmare: a burst pipe flooding the library.

That’s exactly what happened at the Bedford Free Public Library early Monday morning, with the result that the building has been closed all week and likely will not reopen until Monday, July 19. Director Richard Callaghan gave Bedford Citizen reporters a brief tour of the building, pointing out the worst damage in the first floor Meeting Room.

Parts of the Children’s Room also suffered water damage, with some ceiling tiles and carpets needing to be replaced.   As Callaghan said, “It couldn’t come at a worse time, right in the middle of the kids’ summer reading program.” Notices to the public  have gone out via the Town’s web page and regular updates are being posted on the Library’s Facebook page-still, many people are appearing at the door and going away disappointed.  Books may be returned in the outside book drop but the Library is requesting patrons to “hold” donations for the Friends’ book sale until the Library reopens.  Overdue books will be backdated until the last date the Library was open.

What about the book collection?  Fortunately, there is very little damage except to some books in the Children’s Room.

The burst pipe was part of the air conditioning system, which is relatively old.  Ray Barry, the library’s Building & Systems Manager and the first person in the building on Monday morning, noticed water coming in the wall above the Meeting Room and immediately realized the situation was serious.  Fortunately, the Library and the Town of Bedford have insurance coverage, although the total cost of repairs is not known at this time.

Luckily, a ServePro response team (you’ve seen their lime green trucks and equipment in the parking lot) was on the scene very quickly, running giant dehumidifiers and fans, pulling out wet insulation in the Meeting Room, and generally drying out the building. Of course there is no air conditioning now; Callaghan said some staff members are coming in to work in the mornings, when the building is relatively cool.  And the change in the weather to lower humidity is also helping with the drying out process.

Other agencies in town are stepping up to help in this emergency. The Council on Aging has offered space and it may be possible to hold some programs there.

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gardenia
July 18, 2015 9:45 am

Please take good repair of our precious library. It is a great value to all us residents.

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