Small Firebomb Damages Library
in Virginia Beach
A small firebomb damaged the local history and genealogy section of the Virginia Beach (Va.) Central Library January 22. The bomb was tossed through a window, according to a report in the January 25 Virginian-Pilot. The fire that resulted was quickly extinguished by a sprinkler system.
A computerized card-catalog terminal and two racks of books sustained fire and water damage, fire department and library officials said. There was no known motive for the firebombing, and no suspects were immediately identified.
The incident occurred at about 10 p.m. The library was closed at the time and reopened on schedule at 1 p.m. the next day, John Stewart, the city’s library operations manager, said. Part of the first floor was cordoned off, however, while officials began to inventory as many as 1,500 damaged books. The 270,000-volume library serves as the hub for six libraries throughout Virginia Beach.
“I think we were quite fortunate,” Stewart said. “I believe that we can find facsimiles of the damaged books or contact local sources for other copies.”
Posted January 31, 2000.
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