Library survives flood, now they need your help

Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Heavy rain is still falling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library, located across the street from the Cedar River, staff is told that floodwaters are expected to crest 24 feet above flood stage. In 1993, floodwaters crested at 20 feet and the library was safe.

Library staff and volunteers mobilize and work feverishly on the first floor to move the valuable Zerzanek collection of 850 original children's book illustrations to the second floor. They also move all the books on the lower shelves of the adult collection to the top shelves. Computer equipment with information on the library's holdings, as well as the holdings of the Marion and Hiawatha Libraries are also moved.

Thursday, June 12, 2008. It's still raining. At 3 p.m., Interim Library Director Tamara Glise, other library staffers and volunteers are ordered to leave the library building.

"I've got my fingers crossed," Glise said. "We did everything we could to prepare for this. We took anything that could not be replaced to the second floor. On the first floor we moved all the books and other items from the lower shelves to the top shelves. We only had a few inches at the top but we crammed in everything we could. I'm optimistic that we'll be OK."

Later that day, floodwaters crested at 31.12 feet, more than 19 feet above flood stage and 11 feet above the previous record. River water containing raw sewage and other pollutants rose 5 to 7 feet on the first floor of the library, destroying the entire adult and young adult collections, as well as reference materials, a state-of-the-art check out and security system, public access computers and a computer laboratory. Only the Children's department, located on the second floor was spared. It is believed to be the largest public library disaster in U.S. history.

More specifically, the loss included approximately 160,000 items-fiction and nonfiction books, CDs, reference materials, magazines, DVDs, journals, display racks, electronic equipment, microfilm, tables, charts, chairs, copiers, change machines, display racks, newspapers and myriad other items found in the typical busy public library.

Approximately a month later, the library's first floor was stripped down to the concrete. Dehumidifiers were employed to dry out the library and items on the second floor were stabilized. A team of engineers and planners has been assessing the library and a report on the cost of restoring the building is expected shortly. But many questions remain. How much money will be available and from what sources? Will the city's new flood protection plan allow the library to exist so close to the river? While everyone agrees there will be a replacement library, the issue is very complex and not enough information is now available to determine where and in what fashion the new library will be realized.

Meanwhile the nearby libraries in Hiawatha and Marion have been very busy, with double digit increases in checkouts at both locations.

Consider helping out the Cedar Rapids Public Library with a donation of cash or a clever book donation program. Visit crlibrary.org/flood/index.html and see how you can pick from the library's Amazon wish list. When the new library is ready, your book will be ordered and processed and delivered to the library ready to go.

Tune in to my podcast interview with Interim Library Director Tamara Glise for more details on the flood and inspiring plans to reconstruct the Cedar Rapids Public Library at librarybeat.org.