By Davy James, Staff Writer
All public areas at the South Brunswick Public Library have been reopened after last week’s flood, but work still is ongoing in the library’s rear offices to repair the damage.
A broken water pipe caused extensive damage and forced the library to close Aug. 5. At around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 4, library custodial staff alerted police to the broken water pipe, which spread across a large portion of the library’s main floor.
Maintenance crews were able to get the water shut off by 10 p.m. Aug. 4.
The flooding affected part of the children’s fiction area and left some audio and visual collections unavailable.
”All areas were reopened as of Monday,” said Director Chris Carbone. “There’s still some small areas in the back offices that we’re having some issues with.”
Mr. Carbone said a recovery company still is working on wall boards and vinyl wall coverings that sustained water damage while also trying to determine the moisture levels in the library walls.
”There will need to be some repair work, but that should be covered through out insurance company,” Mr. Carbone said.
He said some bottom portions of Sheetrock will need to be removed as part of the repair process, and some wall covering also will need to be replaced in certain affected areas.
Shelving units also will need to be replaced eventually, according to Mr. Carbone.
”Everything is back to normal here, and every area that was closed has been reopened,” Mr. Carbone said.
The cost of the damage has yet to be determined, but Mr. Carbone said he’s confident the damage will be covered by insurance.
Mr. Carbone thanked the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51, who donated $250 to help with the repairs to cover anything not covered by insurance.

