POST FALLS, Id.—The Post Falls and Athol Library are likely closed until summer due to extensive damage caused by January’s freeze.
Pipes burst and the sprinkler system ruptured from the extreme cold on January, 14th.
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Where children used to gather and have story time is now a space where a large pile of unsalvageable items sit.
“Seeing it like this, it’s very hard. It’s very emotional,” Alexa Eccles, Executive Director of The Community Library Network said.
What used to be the sounds of fingers running through pages in books and laughter from kids enjoying story time is now the buzzing sound of multiple fans attempting to dry the space out.
“It’s a librarians worst nightmare to see that kind of water damage, to books to materials to the library,” Eccles said.
This used to be a place where a kids’ imagination could run wild, a student could access free wi-fi, and a company could host its meetings.
“We do book discussions, we do teen programs here that are very popular. We’ve had in the last couple of weeks teens sitting out front, because this is where they come after school and we’re no longer that place for them,” Eccles said.