First Tour of the Flooded Cedar Rapids Public Library
By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter
By
Claire Kellett
Story Created:
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:12 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:12 PM CDT
CEDAR RAPIDS - For the first time Friday afternoon, KCRG-TV 9 News was allowed to see the progress at the downtown Cedar Rapids public library. It is finally safe to be inside the building without mask or protective gear. That's the good news. The bad news is the library lost about 200,000 items on its first floor, and it's still up in the air whether it will stay in the same location.
The first floor of the downtown Cedar Rapids public library looks like an empty warehouse. No books, no computers, no patrons, but thankfully, no more muck and mud. Without a basement, the library was able to get rid of the river water rapidly. But it still took the out-of-state clean up crew almost a month to stabilize the building.
"It's right in there with some of the worst buildings we have seen so far," says John Levy of Globe Midwest Risk Management.
Comparing pictures taken just after the flood to Friday's video shows progress, but the library is no where near functional. And no one knows if it can reopen in the downtown building it's called home since the early eighties. Officials have yet to determine if the structure is sound.
"There are a lot of players in this, the army corps of engineers, city planners, a lot of people weigh in on this," says Marie DeVries of the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
While workers wait to learn of the library's next chapter, there is a bit of good news. Flood water did not affect the 60,000 items in the second floor children's section.
"We will be removing them as soon as we have a place to put them," says DeVries.
And the library pledges to reopen as soon as possible.
"It's a tremendous loss, but it's a tremendous opportunity, too," says Susan McDermott of the Library Board of Trustees.
A tremendous opportunity to update the city's information center.
The Library Board of Trustees is still looking for a temporary location to operate the downtown library. The library's west-side location at Westdale Mall is about to double its size. One reason is to accommodate the roughly 32,000 items that are still usable because they were checked out during the flood. People can also use the Marion and Hiawatha locations.
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Monday, Jul 21 at 12:47 PM reader wrote ...
I know one thing I get every day with books that I cannot get with the internet- cuddling in the rocking chair with my little girl on my lap, reading books before bedtime. It wouldn't be the same if we were staring at a computer screen.
Monday, Jul 21 at 10:33 AM i love ponies wrote ...
WHERES THE TOLIET?
Sunday, Jul 20 at 9:30 PM 1115 and 257 wrote ...
All the information found at the library is now only a click away on the internet. Read a book, I have read hundreds in my life, almost not a day has gone by in the last 20 years that I have not been reading something. What did the library offer that can't be found here? Illiterate?? not me, I am very literate, and very informed.
Sunday, Jul 20 at 3:04 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Aiigh, it makes me sick to see it this way. So many memories have been ruined. So much information about this city's past is gone....horrible, just horrible.
Sunday, Jul 20 at 2:57 PM You Illiterate Cretin... wrote ...
If a library was not a "sound business venture" then there would never be a library built in any city. The fact is that information and access to it does hold a value. And libraries are funded by the public, so your dollars are already going to it. No one has said how the future plans for the library will be funded, but there are few businesses that are truly more worthy of rescue than a city's public library. Go and read a book, why don't you?
Sunday, Jul 20 at 11:15 AM learn to read wrote ...
response to "not a money maker".... i didnt realize that only things that made money are important...lets forget the parks and the library maybe then you will be happy because the city will make sooo much money...go read a book...you might learn something before your next comment
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:11 PM Flood Rocket scientists wrote ...
Amazing how the smart people come out and say if you're in a flood zone then move. I would love to smack all you people. It was a disaster. To say move to higher ground? This conversation would've never been brought up till this and you know that. Stay true...........
Saturday, Jul 19 at 8:22 PM Why??? wrote ...
Why would ANYONE even consider spending all the money to rebuild in a flood plain? We may see this happen all over again before the summer is over.........get the heck out and don't look back.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 8:17 PM Already thought of that wrote ...
They already have been in contact with companies that specialize in cleaning up books after flooding. All the steps are in place to make sure the childrens section is properly santized for future use.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 7:57 PM Not a money maker wrote ...
The Library is not a money maker, And the city will probably use a bunch of that donated money to fix it, or build new, or whatever, and the city will get ZERO return from it. Not a sound business venture.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 6:18 PM Gigi wrote ...
Well if the building is sound then it might make more sense to renovate the library for the future instead of building a new one.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 5:29 PM AJ wrote ...
I agree with the suggestions of moving it. I also took advantage of the resources offered at the library. It was a big step up from the old library, but I think now it's time to move on. I would pay a local option sales tax to see this and other CR buildings relocate to better areas.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 5:03 PM Pius Mom wrote ...
My daughter's class built the dinosaur pictured in the video with the children's collection...she was very relieved to see it survived the flood. We all miss visiting the library...can't wait for it to re-open, where ever that is.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 4:48 PM Curious wrote ...
After sitting in a damp, unventilated building for several weeks, wouldn't the materials stored upstairs (children's collection, etc.) become damp and possibly mold and mildew? Is it safe to put these materials into circulation?
Saturday, Jul 19 at 4:28 PM anonynous wrote ...
Actually they did use the auditorium quite frequently so I do not know where you get your information, but it is worng. I really liked that location and hope for them to stay where they are!
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:57 AM future wrote ...
We are keeping it at it's current location and have already hired a local architect to remodel the facility and make it much better than before.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:57 AM Adam wrote ...
If a bigger, better library at a new location came out of this tragedy that'd be wonderful.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:52 AM Library was told they were in no danger- wrote ...
Library staff repeatedly contacted city officals, for evacuation up-dates; They were told they were in no danger of the waters ever reaching them. (Even after several library employees had to repeatedly move their cars, due to encroaching waters) Unfortunately, when the tune was changed, it was too late;There was only enough time to remove a couple of computers, and some incidentals. The writing was on the wall so much earlier. I have no clue why they waited so long-
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:46 AM Disappointing wrote ...
As soon as the waters started to come down, we heard over and over, to consider using local and in-state contractors to help off-set the blow to local economy. Yet as in this case, the majority of public buildings sent that revenue across state lines? I get there is a demand issue, but come on - practice what you preach. God Bless all the volunteers who came from out of state asking nothing in return, and often doing so at their own fiscal expense.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 8:19 AM Wondering wrote ...
How is it the children's books aren't contaminated? Mold spores are microscopic; wouldn't they be all over the kids books too? They've been in that building all this time. I love the library but I REALLY hope they don't pay Big Lots $27,000 a month to move in there!!!
Saturday, Jul 19 at 7:42 AM Why the same? wrote ...
Why does everyone seem to want everything put back in the same places and exactly the same way? I think it is pretty obvious all these places need to move. People need to realize, things and places are going to change and it will be better for all.
Saturday, Jul 19 at 6:32 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Enough about the lack of free parking already.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:58 PM miko wrote ...
I grew up frequently visiting that library during my summer vacations and other times during the school year, and it is sad to see it in such rough shape now. But I am excited at the idea of possibly building a newer and even better one in the near future.
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:30 PM J. wrote ...
I think the library should change locations. There wasn't enough parking, and having to pay for it is ridiculous. They never did much with the auditoriums there anyway. I am all for a downtown location, but that one was a poor choice.
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