Water-damaged Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix won't reopen until June 2018
Phoenix's flagship Burton Barr Central Library will reopen for full service in June 2018 after severe damage from a pipe that burst near the roof, city officials announced Friday.
The downtown library closed immediately after a July 15 monsoon storm. Its five floors flooded when the fire-sprinkler pipe burst.
An investigation shows that a corroded pipe is to blame for the gushing water, City Manager Ed Zuercher said. City records dating back at least three years that some staff were aware of the problem and did nothing, he said.
Until Friday, staff could not provide a timeline of when it would open for use. City officials said they were awaiting results of an investigation into the incident and the full scope of repairs that will be necessary.
MORE: Burton Barr library damage: How did it happen?
Burton Barr's closure has brought both an outpouring of support as well as concern for people who depend on its services.
Gushing water damaged thousands of books and other parts of the library. Phoenix relocated hundreds of Burton Barr employees to the city's 16 other library branches.
Library staff has also worked to move key programs to makeshift sites.
SEE REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM INSPECTION REPORTS: August 2016 | May 2017
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Phoenix scrambles to replicate services after Burton Barr library closure