Recently, Unicoi County Public Library faced a significant setback when water damage wreaked havoc on its children's book section. On the night of January 18, a sudden burst of water from overhead sprinkler pipes ravaged hundreds of volumes.

Library Director Morgan Olson and children's librarian Hannah Garst arrived on the morning of January 19 to a disheartening scene. Soaked books scattered across the floor, many beyond salvage, prompting a sense of loss for the library staff. Olson mentioned that a broken air compressor might be the cause. The malfunction made the sprinkler system start leaking from the ceiling in the children's book section.

2,748 Children's Books Lost

Upon closer inspection, 2,748 children's books had been damaged. The number includes a carefully curated collection featuring easy reads, nonfiction, and graphic novels. This incident is a blow to the library's ongoing efforts to provide an up-to-date and appealing collection for the community's young readers. 

Fortunately, the tally did not include academic books, as those were kept in a different room. Garst expressed her grief with the damage, stating that the library staff had worked hard to create collections of books catering to the community's desires.

While insurance will cover the repairs and replacement of the damaged volumes, the library is confronted with a significant financial challenge, a $10,000 deductible, posing a substantial hurdle for a small library operating on a tight budget. 

Community Call-to-Action and Donations

In response to this unforeseen challenge, the library is reaching out to the community for support. A public plea has been made to contribute toward meeting the amount deductible, ensuring the library can swiftly recover and continue serving its vital role in the community.

As of January 22, the library has received much support from the community. Donations were obtained from various sources, including book carts generously provided by Johnson City's library, showcasing the community's solidarity in times of need. 

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Unicoi County author Courtnee Turner Hoyle also stepped in and made contributions. Hoyle promised to give the library all the money she makes from her book sales. She expressed her gratitude to the library for its help in her online programs during the pandemic. Hoyle also said she cannot fully repay it for all that it has done for her family, but she still wants to try to give something back. 

A Resilient Vision for the Future

The library remains optimistic about its future. Olson saw how crucial community involvement is to overcoming obstacles and restoring the children's section.

She also stated that they intend to reopen the library on Tuesday, January 23, except for the children's section, which will be blocked off and anticipated to remain closed for a few weeks. The children's section will be relocated to the main library room for checkout.

Unicoi County Public Library is working to recover from water damage, with a shared commitment to rebuilding and maintaining its pivotal role in nurturing a love for reading among the community's children.

Donations can be made through their official website for those willing to help. The DONATE tab on the homepage allows individuals to donate toward recovery efforts easily.

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