Canandaigua, N.Y. – Two stories of the Wood Library on North Main Street in Canandaigua were damaged Monday after a sprinkler pipe burst on the main floor.
It was anything but quiet in the Wood Library, Tuesday, fans were blowing around every corner drying floors, walls, ceilings, anything that may have gotten wet.
“We heard that we moved quick enough that those books will be saved,” said Library Director Jenny Goodemote, when asked about the roughly 2,000 books that were soaked by water, “we're just keeping our fingers crossed.”
It was 75-percent of the adult fiction books that were damaged; those books were immediately sent to Document Reprocessors in Rushville to be freeze dried.
In the meantime, the library remains closed.
Computers are being checked, but the director doesn't believe any electronics were damaged.
Downstairs, quick moving employees were able to save much of the children’s section.
“It came through the light fixtures into the lower level where the children’s room is,” said Goodemote, “luckily staff moved books and computers out of the way in time before any real damage was done downstairs.”
“I think we're on a good start the library's being dried out the books are being protected,” said Library Board President Paul Bringewatt.
Patrons who rely on those books and the library for other services, found locked doors Tuesday.
“It surprised me,” said Barb Owens, “I wanted to get some books for the rest of the week because I have the week off, so now I'm going to have to scurry through stuff at home that I haven't read.”
“I came to use the internet,” said Debbie Lyon, “I’m working on my taxes and I need to print out some forms so I wanted to get that done today.”
It should take about one to two weeks for the damaged books to be freeze dried. The library plans to reopen before then, and tell us members will still be able to borrow titles that were damaged - the books will temporarily come from other libraries.
The sprinkler system was put in the library during their renovations in 2011 the burst may have been caused by a frozen pipe.
The library is covered by insurance.
Visit the library’s website for updates on when they will reopen.
