PatchTV: Library Reopens After Nearly 3 Months of Repairs

After nearly three months of closure due to a massive flood Nov. 26, the opened its again doors Monday despite it being a federal holiday and the fresh layer of about 10 inches of snow that day.

"We had been closed long enough," Ferndale Public Library Director Douglas Raber said. "The entire staff was just eager to get open as quickly as possible and no one really wanted to wait a day, to tell you the truth. We just simply wanted to go to work."

When the library opened the doors at 9 a.m., and through the morning, business was a little slow, Raber said, but as the afternoon came, the library filled up.

"People were saying: 'Hey, it's open, let's get back in there.' And they did and it was great," Raber added.

Patrons were seen at the computers, checking out books and studying throughout the day.

In November, the library suffered a massive water leak when a rainwater treatment system malfunctioned and emptied an estimated 15,000 gallons from the upper level of the library into the main floor. Although none of the collection or more than 40 public computers was damaged, the water seeped into the old, porous concrete foundation. The long closure was need to dry that out and replace the carpet.

Altogether, the cleanup and the recovery of the flood cost about $400,000, Raber said 

The library repairs included new carpeting, damaged drywall and various fixtures and items in the staffing area where the bulk of the damaged occurred.

The flood came three months after the library had reopened after a $4.5 million expansion that also upgraded the library with green features. Recently, the library received an Honorable Mention as "Green Project of the Year" for the project from the Construction Association of Michigan. There were just five other projects given this award in the state.

The Ferndale Public Library is open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. The library is closed Sunday.