Twisters Trounce Libraries
in Oklahoma, Kansas
The Choctaw branch of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City was demolished May 3 when a tornado ripped off its roof and soaked more than half of its collection with rain. Staff and volunteers waded through several inches of water in the storefront library the next day to salvage books, videos, and computer equipment. Executive Director Lee B. Brawner said that MLS is hoping to find temporary quarters for the branch, perhaps by the early summer.
The same day, another tornado took out a sizable portion of the roof and the windows on the west side of the Haysville (Kans.) Community Library. Damage to collections and equipment was minimal. The library staff plans to remove the books and computers to a building owned by the Haysville school district until the building can be repaired.
Other library damage included a portion of roof over a meeting room of Tulsa (Okla.) City-County Library’s West Regional branch, which was closed for one day; and a flooded basement in the Stroud (Okla.) Public Library.
Posted May 10, 1999.
|
