An unpleasant surprise for library staff at the library in Gemert on Monday morning: the building was flooded. Due to the extensive water damage, the library is closed and it is not yet clear when the doors can open again. “The water was about four inches high.”
Esther Göring is manager of De Lage Beemden library, of which Gemert library is part. She can walk through the library again in the afternoon without getting her feet wet. “I received photos and videos from one of the employees this morning,” she says. “The carpet was really full of puddles of water. I was terribly disappointed.”
Because the library often experiences leaks through the roof, Göring was immediately afraid that the books would be damaged. “Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, it didn’t come from above. The culprit is a clogged drain pipe in the patio. There was a handful of leaves in front of it, so the water with that heavy rainfall could not drain through the drain pipe. The water was about ten centimeters high. It entered the library from all sides.”
Dry books
One piece of luck: the books stayed dry. Although Göring is not completely convinced yet. “The room is now very humid. Paper absorbs water, so we have to keep an eye on whether the books are damaged. I am concerned about that. But it could have been worse.”
Ultimately, 130 liters of water were taken from the library. “When you walk on the carpet, you still notice that it is damp. You can also smell it a bit. It will smell even more during the week. Tomorrow morning we will use a vacuum cleaner again and we will probably remove another load of water.”
It is therefore not yet clear when the library can open again. “The youth corner has been completely turned upside down. We have had to empty all the cupboards and put them aside. We have to wait and see what will happen tomorrow. Very sad for our customers.”
