Director Lee Phillips and her staff were busy Thursday preparing the facility for Saturday’s “grand reopening.”
“There’s just a few things to tune up, but we’re ready to go,” Phillips told The Montana Standard.
The library has been out of commission since Nov. 29, when a major water pipe broke, flooding a good portion of the building. The water damaged carpeting, drywall and just over 100 books.
Phillips estimated the cleanup and repair costs at between $250,00 and $350,000 — paid by the county’s insurance.
She said it has been a challenging four months.
“Once we get people in the building and it’s being used again, that will be the greatest satisfaction,” Phillips said.
The library’s main branch has approximately 70,000 books. With a grant, the library recently purchased 10 new desktop computers, 20 laptop computers and two touch-screen computers. Hours on Friday are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The library opened its South Branch in December at the Butte Plaza Mall. Mall management donated six months of space rent free. Phillips said she plans to poll the public to see if they want it to remain open once the lease ends on June 30.
“We have to decide if it’s wanted and if we can afford the space,” she said.
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