Library West will remain closed into the beginning of the Spring semester after a break in the water line caused an estimated 60,000 gallons of water to flood the library’s first, second and third floors for several hours, according to a UF press release. Damaged areas will be closed indefinitely past Jan. 9.
The Humanities and Social Sciences Library, usually shortened to “Library West,” was set to re-open Jan. 3. That date is now extended to Jan. 9 due to damaged computers, furniture, ceilings and carpets. About 6,000 of the more than 1 million books in the library were damaged by water. The damaged books are being assessed for inventory and replacement.
UF was unable to comment to The Alligator about the temporary closure in time for initial publication.
The Chilled Water Production staff noticed the water break Dec. 26, when the early-morning temperature in Gainesville dropped to the low to mid-20s. Staff and contractors are working to repair parts of the first, second and third floors of the west end of the library.
Normal hours of operation are expected to resume Monday. Students can still drop off books at Library West’s drive-thru drop box location on the east side of the library facing Anderson Hall.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Sophia at sbailly@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_bailly.
Sophia Bailly is the Fall 2024 University Editor. She interned for The Times-Picayune in Louisiana this past summer as a Capitol News Bureau reporter. When she's not reading the news, she can be found listening to podcasts, going for a run or studying Russian.
