The Cascade Public Library will be closed for six weeks due to damages sustained from the Watkins Pharmacy fire.
In a Facebook post, the library said there is “significant” water and smoke damage and the facility needs to shut down.
In another post, the library answered questions Cascade-area residents have been inquiring about.
“The carpet will not be salvageable. We have a concrete floor and the water damage was too great and with limited air circulation, the carpet will mold. The dumpster was needed for the carpet removal alone. We will work together with the disaster team to try and preserve everything we can. We will also be working today to try and get Wifi secured. We recognize that internet services are vitally important for our community,“ the post said.
Assesing damage
The City of Cascade is now working with the city’s insurance and a disaster cleanup company to assess the extent of the damage. To avoid further destruction, the city wrote it is taking “immediate action” to protect the books.
“Following the removal of the books, clean-up and restoration will begin. All the flooring, including the carpet, must be removed along with approximately 4 feet of the walls to ensure that all moisture is removed…There will be a substantial amount of debris that must be removed from the premises. Rest assured, no books are being tossed into the dumpster,” the post said.
[Watkins Pharmacy in Cascade burns down]
The city wrote that some library programs have been moved to the Recycled Book store, access to the online catalog will still be available, and temporary free memberships will be offered to cardholders. The city cautioned that this is an ongoing situation and things will change.
The estimated six-week closure may be extended depending on cleanup and progress made.
