5.7. LIBSR 09-27-2016 5.7
Patron Services Supervisor Report
To: Elk River Library Board
CC: William Hollerich, LSC
From: Brandi Canter, Lead PSS
Date: September 12, 2016
St. Cloud Library Closure
As you have likely heard, a patron set a fire at the St. Cloud Library on Wednesday, August 17.
While the fire was small, it created significant smoke damage and some structural damage as
well. Because of that, the library has been closed to the public since then. We have worked
closely with the City of St. Cloud and submitted a request for bids to complete the clean up and
repairs. These bids are set to be opened and evaluated on Friday, September 16. The St. Cloud
City Council is scheduled to hear the bids, and hopefully select a contractor to do the work, at its
regular meeting on Monday, September 19. The GRRL Board of Trustees will meet the next day
to review the bids as well. With any luck, we will be able to start repairs later that week.
We have extended hours at our libraries in Waite Park and Clearwater, and anecdotally we are
hearing that St. Cloud patrons are seeking other libraries as far afield as Buffalo.
While this has been a significant problem, it was not a tragedy. Due to the quick, professional
response of St. Cloud library staff and the St. Cloud police and fire departments, no one was
injured and the library was saved. Also, we have not missed a single delivery to outlying
branches, and GRRL management team and front-line staff have worked hard to ensure minimal
disruptions to regional programming,publicity, etc.
For more information, please see this article from the St. Cloud Times (September 8, 2016):
http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/09/08/soot-air-quality-delays-library-
reopening/89997348/
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