Flooding in Tennessee Limits Library Service
Little significant damage reported
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 05/05/2010
- Libraries in Nashville have reopened
- County libraries remain open amid surrounding damage
- Clarksville library serves as Red Cross Center
NPL is also offering users links to flood recovery resources.
Nashville status
Two NPL branches have water in their basements, but no damage to their collections. The Bellevue Library branch has no phone or Internet access.
"The system's biggest challenge is with its maintenance facility, which was flooded and lost one-third of its fleet, said Fortenay. "No dollar estimate on the damage is available yet, although the flooding at the maintenance facility is expected to impact courier service, custodial supplies, maintenance, and mowing equipment."
NPL, which provides Internet access for those facing power outages, may play more of a role in the recovery. "Our Bellevue and Thompson Lane branches, which are located in some hard-hit areas, may be named FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] information sites," spokesperson Deanna Larson told LJ.
State Library mostly OK
The State Library and Archives building located in Nashville suffered some flooding in the document conservation lab due to a roof drainage problem. However, no documents were lost as a result of the flooding, said Fortenay.
Fortenay’s roundup of damage statewide:
"Elsewhere, in West Tennessee, the Memphis Public Library was reporting some branches with leaky roofs, but no flooding. In Millington, there was still a danger that a breached levee could cause flooding at the library there.
The Jackson-Madison County Library was closed Monday, but open Tuesday. Downtown Jackson, where the library is located, has experienced significant problems with flooding and sinkholes.
In Middle Tennessee, the Cheatham County Public Library in Ashland City was closed Monday. The library isn't damaged, but floodwaters are blocking all roads leading to the library. The Hendersonville Public Library sustained water damage to its children's meeting room but not its collection.
The Clarksville Montgomery County Public Library is open and is serving as a Red Cross center, just as it did a few years ago when a tornado hit the downtown area there.
Libraries in Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties are open, but there has been extensive damage to infrastructure in those communities.
In East Tennessee, Maynardville's library sustained heavy water damage when gutters backed up. Books in the book drop and director's files were totally destroyed. Gainesboro's public library had some flooding in the lobby area, but is now open. The new library in Crossville, which was just dedicated on Sunday, developed a large leak due to the rains and two trees were down on their property."
