65,000 books threatened by moisture have been stored in the children's section of the Kennebecasis Public Library since flooding damaged the library in January. Image submitted by KPL.

Seven months after significant flooding closed the Kennebecasis Public Library, the building is set to re-open later this month.

The flood occurred on January 24th and the following days were focused on immediate repairs, keeping the books safe and assessing the extent of the damage.

Acting Library Director Norah Emerson explained how the books stayed dry.

“We shelve everything so that it’s at least two feet up off the ground. Since the leak started from one spot and never got high enough to reach the books, they were all fine,” Emerson said.

Library staff and volunteers are in the process of putting 65,000 books back on the shelves.

Emerson said they expect to put 50,000 books back this week.

The process of returning the books means the space is starting to “look like a library again”.

She said it became clear during the closure how many people missed the library.

“I’ve sort of had a sense of that the whole way through because I have been in the building the whole time. I’ll come in the morning and there will be people standing outside the doors.
‘We just want to know what’s going on and when we’re reopening and where they can get their books. If there is anything they can do to help,'” Emerson said.

The Kennebecasis Public Library is set to re-open on August 23rd.

The Kennebecasis Public Library is scheduled to re-open this month after flooding caused significant damage in January. pic.twitter.com/zkJM6etjqS

— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) August 12, 2022