Georgetown Branch Fire Damage Could Have Been Worse; Construction Accident Blamed

-- Library Journal, 5/4/2007

The damage from the fire Monday at the Georgetown branch of the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is significant but not as severe as it could have been: items in the Peabody Room, which the library said "housed a priceless collection of historical documents, manuscripts, maps and artwork," were soaked but intact, and sent immediately for restoration. And a reconstruction is planned.

Fire officials said Thursday that the fire was probably caused by a construction worker using a heat gun to remove paint and other material from a second-floor window, the Washington Post reported.  Because construction workers tried to stop the fire on their own, it took 15 minutes before a library staffer called 911.

It was a tough week for the city, as the historic Eastern Market also burned on the same day. And DCPL had planned to put in sprinklers after the exterior renovation at Georgetown had been accomplished. Two hydrants near the library weren't functioning. Mayor Adrian Fenty drafted emergency legislation to direct all excess revenue in FY 2007 and 2008—up to $80 million—for both structures. The library reconstruction could cost $15 to $20 million.

The construction work that led to the accident was part of a long-planned $6.1 million renovation originally scheduled to be completed by December 2009 and long overdue. As Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher wrote Monday, "The Georgetown library was one of the terribly neglected gems of the D.C. system. The last time I was there, I was appalled to see the damage being done by leaking pipes, decrepit steam vents and roofing that was simply not maintained."

On Tuesday, the DCPL Foundation established the "Georgetown Neighborhood Library Recovery and Restoration Fund," which will receive tax-deductible contributions toward restoration of the collection and artwork and rebuilding of the library. Donations can be made at the foundation web site.