Carpet dryers were the sole occupants on Saturday in the library’s turret room after a broken pipe caused water damage.
The Lincoln Public Library had an unpleasant start to the new year when a broken ceiling pipe or sprinkler head drenched the first-floor “turret room” next to the main entrance.
The water damage was limited to some reference books and Christmas materials on the ground floor, said Lisa Rothenberg, the library’s assistant director. Once it dries, the carpeting on the lower level and ground floor will be disinfected to prevent mold growth, and the walls and insulation will be inspected for moisture and electrical issues. If everything is dry, the library will reopen at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, although the reference section, adult computers and nonfiction will still be off limits, she said.
“Barbara [Myles, the library’s director] has done an incredible job managing the situation, and our custodians Bob Bottino and Bob Lager have also worked really hard to limit the damage and to assist in cleanup,” said Rothenberg.
It was unclear whether the broken pipe was part of the new fire suppression system that was installed over the summer.
The library closure was reminiscent of a similar situation faced by Aka Bistro a year ago, when a broken ceiling pipe caused extensive water damage and forced the restaurant to close for several months.
What was the low night time temperature. Was there a frozen pipe problem?
Does the “room” have adequate “radiators”? ? No water carrying pipes before sprinklers installed ?