An unexpected storm that struck in the middle of a roofing job at San Bruno (Calif.) Public Library has flooded the building and forced officials to close it until further notice.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported June 8 that the roof of the two-story building had been partially removed for repairs when the storm struck June 2, blowing off the tarps that had been spread to keep out the elements.
Though only about 200 of the collections’ 10,000 titles were ruined, rain poured into the building, damaging ceiling tiles and carpeting. The library has since begun a curbside service so patrons can return borrowed materials.
City officials had not yet completed a formal damage estimate, the newspaper reported.
Posted June 14, 1999.