Home Photo Gallery Classroom Documents WPA May help Libraries Damaged by Floods WHAT the Works Progress Administration might be able to do in permanent rehabilitation of libraries damaged during recent floods was discussed February 14 in Chicago by Carl H. Milam, secretary of the American Library Association, and Julia Wright Merrill, chief of the A.L.A. Public Library Division, with Mrs. Ellen Woodward, assistant administrator of the WPA, Mrs. Florence Kerr, regional director for the middle western states, and Mrs. Amy Moon, director of the Illinois Women's Division. All of the WPA representatives were hopeful that WPA assistance could be given. Suggested procedures to be followed by affected libraries were outlined by Miss Merrill immediately following the conference and sent state library agencies and large libraries in the flood areas. A close estimate of library damage is still to be made, but the following brief summary has been compiled by the Public Library Division with the aid of state library agencies and local libraries. PENNSYLVANIA AND MISSOURIWEST VIRGINIAHuntington. James E. Morrow Library (Marshall College). Estimated flood damage to building, $5,000. About 2,300 books water-soaked. Public libraries in Wheeling (Ohio County Library), Parkersburg, and Huntington were above water. The Wheeling branch on the island had fortunately been replaced by service from a book automobile. Several small libraries in river towns, such as Moundsville and Point Pleasant, appear to be in the danger zone. The high school library at Parkersburg was well above water. OHIOCincinnati Public Library (serves all of Hamilton County). The main library, including even its sub-basements where books were stored, was above water. Two of the branch libraries were flooded. The East End Branch basement was used for the storage of overflow books from the main library. A corps of men and boys worked as the water rose and got part of the books out of storage. Between 5,000 and 6,000 were water-soaked, including the library's collection of war novels and war literature in general. The Cleves Branch Library occupies the large front room in the township hall, but the flood gave sufficient warning so that the librarian was able to get all books upstairs. Furniture and fixtures, however, were submerged. In three deposit stations along the river, about 1,200 books were damaged. The West End Branch was used as a relief station. University of Cincinnati Library and the high school libraries were all above water. Grandview Heights Public Library (in a suburb of Columbus). Building was flooded. Damage not yet estimated. (Collection of about 19,000 volumes.) Manchester Public Library. Small collection of 2,600 volumes flooded. Middleport Public Library. Basement flooded and heating plant damaged. Book loss small. Pomeroy. The library is in the danger zone and the whole town was hard hit. The state librarian has been unable to get information. Portsmouth Free Public Library. Completely flooded. Building, collection of 27,000 volumes and records in very bad condition. Full damage not yet estimated. Ripley. Union Township Public Library. Completely flooded with serious damage to small collection of 6,000 volumes, to records and to building. Marietta and Athens. Both public and university libraries stand high, well above flood areas. KENTUCKYState Library Extension Division estimates damage to libraries at $200,000, and the book loss (outside of Louisville) at 3,000. Louisville Public Library. At the main library, water reached to the top of the basement, ruined the museum and one floor of stacks on which there were valuable documents and bound magazines. 30,000 volumes were damaged. The stack girders are bent or broken. Most of the equipment and furniture had been moved upstairs. It was impossible to get workers to move the books upstairs after it was realized that the basement would be flooded. One branch is in bad shape. Three or four were under water, but in only one, apparently, were hooks badly damaged. These are circulation books of average worth. Total damage estimated at $150,000. The main library was used as a bureau of missing persons. When a telephone call was put through from Chicago for Harold Brigham (the librarian) the first question asked by the obviously strange operator was, "How old is he?" Paducah Public Library. Basement was flooded but water did not reach main floor. Books in the basement were moved to main floor in time to save them. Too early to estimate damage to building and equipment. Augusta. Knoedler Memorial Library. Completely flooded. Damage to small collection of 1,500 volumes and to building estimated at $12,000. Smaller libraries, as Carrollton, Maysville, Newport, Covington, Owensboro and Henderson, appear to have been in the danger zone. Frankfort. While much of the city was under water, the public and state libraries escaped. INDIANAEvansville Public Library (serves Vanderburgh County). The new central library had a few feet of water in the basement; books had been removed to upper floor--25,000 of them; machinery, floor and furniture probably damaged. The basements of the East Side branch, the business branch, the Howell branch, the West Side branch, and three school branches were flooded. It is estimated that 10,000 books were damaged and that $30,000 damage was done to main library building and equipment. Water was still in branch basements February 8 and damage could not be estimated. Evansville. Willard Library. 500 books lost in flooded homes. No building loss. Aurora Public Library. Basement flooded and two inches of water on main floor. About 8,000 volumes damaged. Building damage about $1,500. Jeffersonville Public Library. Completely under water for about two weeks. Records and collection of 17,500 volumes expected to be a complete loss, including high priced and rare books. Damage to building and grounds at least $2,000; to equipment, $5,000. Lawrenceburg Public Library. Completely under water for about two weeks. Records and collection of 10,000 books. Damage to building and grounds at least $2,000; to equipment, $5,000. New Albany Public Library. Basement flooded. 2,000 books damaged, including some high priced ones. Damage to building, equipment and grounds estimated at $2,850. Vevay. Switzerland County Library. Main library not damaged, but small losses in equipment in county branches. Small libraries in Cannelton, Charleston, Corydon, Grandview, Madison (Jefferson County Library), Mt. Vernon, Newburgh, Rising Sun (Ohio County Library), Rockport and Tell City were not themselves flooded but expect to lose books in flooded homes. For the state, with 14 counties flooded, the estimated loss is 54,000 books, all the records in two libraries, and building and equipment damage of $39,000. ILLINOISCairo. The library is close to the levee but the danger of a break seems past. Harrisburg. Mitchell-Carnegie Public Library stands high and escaped serious damage. Several thousand books out in circulation must have been completely lost. The library was used as a hospital until the boiler burst. Among smaller libraries, Golconda is reported entirely flooded. Mound City and Mounds are in danger zones. The Vienna library was not damaged and was used for refugees. The Metropolis library is also safe. Several of the flooded counties in southeastern Illinois still have no permanent libraries, but the State Library Extension Division was cooperating with WPA in rural book service. Stations in Saline County are safe, but condition of those in Pulaski County is still uncertain. ON THE MISSISSIPPIArkansas libraries are safe so far, though Helena is in the danger zone. Memphis. The Cossitt Library, which serves the whole of Shelby County, stands high, as do the branch libraries. Goodwyn Institute Library is also high. West Tennessee. No other library is expected to suffer, according to the Memphis librarian. In Mississippi, the Greenwood, Greenville and Yazoo City libraries were expecting flood waters In Louisiana, Concordia Parish Library, Ferriday, and Richland Parish Library, Rayville, are moving books in preparation for flood. Every library mentioned above and many others not themselves flooded will suffer a loss of the books that were in circulation in flooded homes. Collectively this will reach a large figure. State library agencies are collecting further information as fast as they can and sending it to A.L.A. Headquarters. Word of school libraries is in general still to be received.
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