Lombard library reopens after flood-related closure

The Helen Plum Memorial Library in Lombard reopened Tuesday morning after being closed Sunday and Monday due to flooding.

Rain on Friday and Saturday caused streets outside to flood, and surface water entered the basement and the first floor on the south end.

But don’t worry: “No books were harmed,” Kristie Leslie, the library’s marketing manager, said Tuesday morning.

An alarm alerted library officials around 2 a.m. Saturday.

“It was really just the volume of water that came in a short period of time,” Leslie said.

The National Weather Service recorded 4.6 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday at a station at Morton Arboretum in nearby Lisle.

Work is underway to remove moisture, address damage, and prevent mold from developing. Remediation workers may have to replace some drywall and insulation, Leslie said.

Some areas in the youth services area are blocked off while the work is being done. The first-floor family restrooms, the Quiet Spot and the youth services program room are unavailable.

Officials suggest visiting the library’s website calendar to see if programs have been canceled or moved.

The library is at 411 S. Main St.