Library to stay closed for 90 days: wavy.com
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – As a result of a Christmas Day fire , Portsmouth officials said Thursday that the city’s Main Library will remain closed for 90 days for repairs.
The facility, located at located at 601 Court Street, sustained extensive damage at the rear foyer of the building when a fire broke out on Christmas evening. The interior of the library was damaged primarily by smoke and heat.
The closure was originally supposed to last for one week , but officials said it became increasingly apparent that it was not suitable to re-open until April 1, 2011.
This timetable is necessary to clean most of the approximately 150,000 volumes of books and to repair and reconstruct the building components destroyed by the fire, Portsmouth Public Affairs Officer Dana Woodson said.
Fire investigators determined the fire started in the book drop and was incendiary in nature.
The City recognizes and regrets the inconvenience that the temporary closing of the Main Library causes for citizens and is working to restore the facility to its full operation as soon as is safely possible.
During the reconstruction period, citizens may access library services at the other library branches (Cradock, Manor, Churchland), which are open and operating on a regular schedule.
Also, any books checked out of the Main Library on or before December 23, 2010 may be returned to any of the other library branches without fines.
Officials said sales by the Friends of the Library will continue as scheduled and are accessed at the side entrance on Saturday, January 15, 2011.
The Local History Room is currently unavailable and the Law Library is also unavailable at this time.
Source: WAVY