“DON’T BLAME ME IF IT RAINS” – EEYORE
The Mammoth Lakes Library has been closed since March 4, due to water damage precipitated from a burst pipe of the building’s second floor fire suppression system. Though the ceilings and flooring of the library on Sierra Park Road are in need of repair, the vast majority of its book collection was spared.
“Water dogs did most of the work,” explained Chris Platt, County Library Director, in reference to the cleanup and mitigation response since March 4. “We have the building closed to the public because they need space to dry it out, dehumidify… and do the necessary moisture mitigation to prevent mold.”
As explained by Platt, the second floor of the library has been partitioned with plastic tarping to protect the books while clean up is underway.
“The water damaged [about] four carts worth of books [the majority of which were located in the children’s section]“ said Platt. “It’s a great thing it didn’t ruin our collection.”
But, said Platt, the water released from the burst pipe soaked into the electrical outlets and the carpeting.
The closure allows time for contractors to come in and replace the bad ceiling tile and break down the water-logged walls so the building is safe for the public.
“The libraries operate under the Office of Education, rather than the county itself,” said Platt. “So when something like this happens, the school’s insurance will have it covered.”
In a community like Mammoth—where there are only so many quiet places (indoors) for one to go—a closure such as this one is especially felt. The library provides a space for school-aged kids to focus on their homework assignments, and for college-level students to take proctored exams. It’s a home base for remote workers. The center for Makerspace and weekly childrens’ reading events.
None of this is lost on Platt.
“I can tell you, our staff is reaching out to other branches,” said Platt, referring to the potential relocation of staple library activities.
Platt said that events such as sticker making with Makerspace and Storytime may be held at the June Lake branch, and that, so long as it’s not a damaged book or one actively being protected from water damage, items from the Mammoth Lakes branch collection will be available for call-ahead and pickup.
“We did that during the pandemic,” said Platt. “We have that muscle, and we can exercise it again.”
Platt also mentioned that the library will continue to ‘bleed out” Wi-Fi into the building’s parking lot, for those who rely on its access from their vehicles.
“We just ask that [Wi-Fi] users don’t park directly in front of the buildings, so that construction workers … can get in and out quickly,” said Platt. “Of course, the priority is getting the building up and ready so people can go back inside.”
And until that day comes—which Platt suspects could be as early as two weeks from now—the library director encourages patrons to follow the library Instagram (@monoctylibraries), frequent the website https://www.monocolibraries.org/branches/mammoth-lakes, and subscribe to its auxiliary programs’ newsletters.
