Some Libraries Still Flooded After Irene and in Need of Help
By Michael Kelley & Debra Whelan Sep 2, 2011The state of affairs for libraries damaged in New York, New Jersey, and Vermont by Hurricane Irene is becoming a bit clearer.
In Schoharie County, in upstate New York, the Schoharie Free Association Library has closed until further notice. The 1860s main structure and a $1 million carriage house addition completed in 2003 for the children's collection were inundated. The cellar was completely flooded, and there was an additional three feet of water on the main floor.
"My plan is to get the books that are still good out of the building," said Meg Berdan, a library trustee. "We've pumped out our basement, but it keeps coming back in. Our priority is to get everything wet out of the structure, to rip the wallboard off, pull out the insulation, and let things dry as much as possible before mold sets in," she said.
The bottom two shelves of books throughout the main floor were underwater, she said. Berdan could not estimate how many linear feet this was. But the library's collection is about 20,000 volumes, and she was worried that the whole collection, including dry books on the upper level, may have to be removed because the library will have no heat.
| Damage at the Schoharie library. |
A structural engineer has not yet examined the building, but Berdan said that no cracks were found in the cellar, where workers are shoveling out mud as water is pumped out.
"We made sure to increase the load-bearing structure in the1860 building, and our new foundation was built to flood specification, but this was an unbelievable flood. Our entire village looks like a bomb went off," she said. "Nothing seemed evidently compromised, so we're going to cross our fingers," she said.
Berdan was hoping for some assistance in storing the collection, and the library has been posting photos of the damage to its Flickr page. She can be contacted at megsmail(at)midtel.net, or via Carol Clingan, the director of the Mohawk Valley Library System (cclingan(at)mvls.info, 518-355-2010, x223).
The Middleburgh Public Library was also heavily damaged, according to Clingan.
"Both Schoharie and Middleburgh have focused on removing materials to allow the buildings to dry out and lower the threat of mold damage," Clingan said. "Library staff, trustees, and volunteers have been working on removing carpets, soaked books, and other materials so interior repairs can begin. Middleburgh was still without power as of this morning [September 2]. The major concern for both libraries this morning was finding storage facilities for undamaged materials so repair work can begin," she said. Both libraries have lost computers.
The directors at Middleburgh and Schoharie could not be reached for comment, but their emails are Cathy Caiazzo (ccaiazzo(at)mvls.info) for Schoharie and in Middleburgh, Theresa Pavoldi (tpavoldi(at)mvls.info).
"Since damage control is top priority at the moment, they have not yet set up ways that people can donate," Clingan said. "Our system has been working with them, and we expect to have details early next week," she said.
The most heavily damaged library in Essex County is the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay, according to Jane Briggs, a spokesperson for the state Education Department.
The flooding that resulted from the storm virtually wiped out the entire children's section, which remains closed for cleanup and repairs.
Ewa Jankowsa, the director of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, visited the library today.
"According to their estimation, about 40 percent of their collections were lost," Jankowsa said. "Now so many people want to donate books, but they need help cleaning and need to assess their losses, needs, and find space where they can store materials."
Jankowsa said there was still water in the basement, and many volunteers were cleaning material that is collected every year for the library's antiques sale fundraiser.
| Volunteers cleaning up at the Wells Memorial Library. |
Award-winning children's author Kate Messner has blogged about the library's plight and has reached out to the Bookstore Plus, a local independent bookstore 20 miles southwest of Jay, to assist in rebuilding the library's collection.
Anyone wanting to help can call Bookstore Plus or visit its website and choose a book to donate to the library. The bookstore will store it until the library reopens. Another option is to donate a gift card for the library so librarians can choose their own books later on. Monetary contributions have come in from California, Alaska, Oregon-and even England and Germany. "It's heartwarming," said Sarah Galvin, co-owner of the store with her husband, Marc. The grand total so far is $1600 and climbing.
Authors and illustrators are also urged to join the cause by contacting Messner directly or calling Bookstore Plus (518-523-2950). The bookstore will host a fundraiser for the library on the evening of October 22. The event will include author/illustrator appearances and a silent auction of original art from children's book illustrators.
Author/illustrator Tom Angleberger has agreed to donate two illustrations from his latest book, Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book (Abrams, 2011), illustrator Laura Ludwig Hamor has offered to host a community craft project to create book characters made out of clay, author Deborah Underwood will give signed copies of The Quiet Book (Houghton Harcourt, 2010), and authors J. and P. Voelkel plan to donate art from their "Jaguar Stones" (Egmont) series.
New book donations from publishers are welcome, but owing to limited dry storage space the public is being asked to consider a monetary donation instead. Checks should be made payable to the Wells Memorial Library, PO Box 57, Upper Jay, NY 12987.
Initial reports from Essex County were that the Keene Public Library had been severely damaged, possibly swept away, but those reports did not hold up, according to Briggs from the state Education Department.
"There was some water damage, but the library's OK," Briggs said.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Paterson Public Library has been dealing with the swollen waters from the Passaic River, which flooded large swathes of the city of about 146,000 people.
The main library and its four branches are all closed at least until September 6, and the First Ward branch is closed indefinitely. The branch's cellar is completely flooded, and there is 2.5 feet of water inside the building, according to Cynthia Czesak, the director.
"It's a very small branch in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood, and the branch is in an old bank building from the 1940s that floods all the time," Czesak said. The building is just a block from the river, and this time the flooding was of a different degree.
"It looks like a wave hit the inside of the building," said Czesak, who toured the branch today. "There were tables knocked over, bookcases shifted, but all the doors were still closed."
The water didn't reach any of the branch's computers, which were being moved out today, but about two shelves of books were underwater and definitely destroyed, Czesak said.
"I'm concerned about the materials remaining in the building because of the sheer humidity," she said.
The building itself did not appear structurally damaged, but Czesak said she may have a conversation with the city about relocating the branch. Anyone wanting to help can reach Czesak at Czesak(at)patersonpl.org
The New Jersey state library has posted the results of its online survey that was used to assess damage at libraries. And the Princeton Public Library, which extended its hours after the storm to 11 p.m., has posted a video that documents the activities of the 4500 people who flocked to the library in the storm's aftermath.
Plug In and Power Up Day at Princeton Public Library from Princeton Public Library on Vimeo.
As LJ previously reported, Vermont's West Hartford Public Library, lost about 60 percent of its collection. The library is accepting donations through the local independent bookseller the Norwich Bookstore (802-649-1114). Vermont librarian Jessamyn West also has a website with information about how to help Vermont libraries in need after Irene.
