Sprinkler burst damages, closes Gilbert library

Gilbert's Southeast Regional Library was closed for two days by an interior sprinkler head that burst in the southwest corner of the building, dousing carpet, furniture and magazines with names that begin with the letters C through M.

"Mother Jones was saved, so it ends with Mother Earth News," library branch manager Andrew Chanse said Monday. "And it starts with Crafts and Things." He said about 300 magazines were soaked through, or about a thirdof all the library's magazines.

A malfunctioning sprinkler burst Sunday shortly after the building opened at 1 p.m, prompting an evacuation.

The water reached almost to the middle of the building before it could be turned off, but only a couple of books received minor damage, Chanse said, which is good because they're more expensive to replace than periodicals.

Furniture had to be moved so the carpet could be cleaned, and water removed from outlets in the floor before computers could be plugged back in.

The library is the largest and busiest one operated by the Maricopa CountyLibrary District, and Chanse said there were not only curious patrons peering in the front door but plenty of people dropping items off in the drive-through bins.

"Not only are we trying to clean up the damage and finish work that wasn't done yesterday, it's almost as if we're open," Chanse said.

Chanse said Monday afternoon that he expected the library to reopen Tuesday at or near its normal opening time of 10 a.m.

Electricians and town building inspectors were checking Monday for damage, and town inspectors will inspect the entire building before it's reopened.

Audrey Bromwell, spokeswoman for the library district, said the Southeast Regional Library circulated 1.8 million items during the last fiscal year, about a third of the activity in the entire district.

The Maricopa County Library District operates one other Gilbert facility, Perry Branch Library at 1965 E. Queen Creek Road.