Zimmerman Library reopened Thursday afternoon with limited services after it was closed Wednesday when a flange failed and a water pipe burst as part of a new sprinkler system installed in the basement level one. The affected area was under reconstruction following a fire in May 2006.
Photo: Workers help remove water as part of the cleanup after a pipe burst and flooded the basement level one in Zimmerman Library.
The water level reached approximately seven inches and as a result, the new carpeting is being removed and will be completely replaced. The drywall on the basement walls at the floor level was soaked and will be removed and replaced, textured and repainted. The insulation inside the walls at the floor level is being removed and replaced.
Between 75-100 publications damaged, most of them were part of the government information collection. A few drawings from the archival collections had some ink blurring when they got damp at the edges, but the books and materials in the collections in general were not affected. Materials from the rare book collections were not involved.
Dean of University Libraries Martha Bedard hopes to reopen the basement near the beginning of the spring semester in January.
Posted by scarr at November 1, 2007 01:56 PM