(360) 943-5001 - Fax (360) 586-6838 - 415 Tumwater Blvd. SW - Tumwater, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO (360-704-4636) in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022.
TRL Web site: http://www.trlib.org

Media Contacts: Leanne Ingle, Communications Specialist, 1-877-284-6237, ext. 2508; e-mail: lingle@trlib.org; or Jinny Burns, Centralia Timberland Library Community Librarian, (360) 736-0183, ext. 2057.

Library closure results from burst water pipe last Saturday night
Expected reopening is August 23 but people should check

Last Saturday night a hot-water pipe in the second-floor staff room at the Centralia Timberland Library broke, setting off fire alarms in the ceiling below. Custom Security, the library’s alarm monitoring company, called Timberland Regional Library officials at about 2 a.m. By 4 a.m., TRL staff and Heritage Restoration, a company from Chehalis, were assessing the damage and beginning the cleanup. About 250 books, two computers and most of the current magazine issues were damaged.

"At this point, it appears that we probably won't be ready to open to the public until the middle of next week," said Jinny Burns, Centralia’s Community Librarian. If the building passes an air quality test, the library will be allowed to reopen to the public on Wednesday, August 23.

If given the all clear, library staff will put the library back in order on Tuesday, moving shelves and furniture, shelving books that have been returned to the library, and processing books that Centralia patrons had reserved.

The second floor, which includes back issues of magazines and newspapers, young adult books, oversized nonfiction, and city directories might remain closed a little longer while carpet is replaced and items from the staff room are moved back in. "Our main concern is for the safety of the public," said TRL Director, Jodi Reng.

A lab tested the ceiling tiles for asbestos content and detected none so the restoration company removed the water-soaked tiles, which provided access to the area between ceiling tiles and the upstairs floor. Fans are moving air across the carpet and up toward the ceiling and dehumidifiers are pulling out the moisture. Air scrubbers are filtering the air.

By Thursday afternoon, wet areas should be dry. To get valid air quality test results, the air must have been dry for at least 48 hours. Testing is scheduled for Monday morning, August 21, and the results should be available later that day.

"We are fortunate that Fire District 12 responded so quickly to the alarm and that Heritage Restoration sent a crew of people to the library at 4 a.m. on Sunday to begin dealing with the water damage," said Burns. "Yes, we have had a big mess to deal with. It could have been so much worse!"

For library services while the Centralia library is closed, people can visit the Chehalis Timberland Library, 76 NE Park Street, Chehalis. Hours are 10 to 8 Tuesday through Thursday; 10 to 5 Friday; 10 to 4 Saturday. Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians are available to answer reference questions at 1-800-562-6022, toll free, 9 to 9 Monday through Thursday; 9 to 6 Friday; 9 to 5 Saturday; 1 to 5 Sunday.

For more information, people may telephone the Centralia library at 736-0183.

Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 7 library service partner locations. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, people in Lewis County can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians toll-free at 1-800-562-6022. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at www.trlib.org. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library a week in advance.

Revised 08/18/06