County library has limited opening after water damage

After being closed since December due to water damage, the Rabun County Public Library had a “limited opening” Feb. 1 with patrons being able to access and utilize only certain areas of the facility.

The library will be open with limited availability through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Saturday.

Library Branch Manager Dyana Costello Banks said the goal is to open fully on Monday, Feb. 6.

The library closed until further notice because of a pipe burst during the extended cold weather over the Christmas holiday weekend last year.

The building, located at 73 Jo Dotson Circle, Clayton, suffered water damage. The burst pipes were discovered when a staff member was at the library to collect items from the book drop during the holiday weekend, Banks said.

Banks said that during the closure, staff and crew members worked to restore portions of the library that were damaged.

During the limited opening, patrons will have access to the Community Room located in the front of the building.

“The restoration is complete, but the cleaning is still ongoing,” according to a post on the Rabun County Public Library Facebook page.

Banks said all due dates have been extended until Feb. 6 and no fines should have been accrued during the closure.

Banks said the blue library return bins located in the library parking lot were opened back up Wednesday, Feb.1, and patrons can once again drop off checked out items.

Banks said during the limited opening, shelves featuring new books, DVDs, and children’s books will be set up in the Community Room where patrons can browse and check out items.

She added that patrons also can visit https://www.rabuncountylibrary.org/ to reserve books and other items and stop by the library to pick them up. Banks said staff members will be available in the Community Room to locate the items and have the ability to sign them out with patron library cards.

Banks said four laptops also will be available in the community room for use as well. She said that printing is available and once a document is printed, staff members will obtain the item from the printing area and hand the pages to the patron due to ongoing work in other areas of the library.

Banks said that during the entire process with the water damage and restoration, less than five items were lost. She said she is very thankful because it could have been a lot worse.

Banks said the closure gave an opportunity to revamp the library to give it a new look while moving items around and adding services.

“[It’s a] work in progress,” Banks said. “We needed to make it a little more welcoming.”

Banks noted that shelves were reorganized and large print books are located closer to the front for easier access. There also will be a lounge section for Young Adults and “study nooks” throughout the library.

There also will be a permanent section for the Friends of the Library book sales so it can continue while programming is going on in the Community Room. Banks said the library will continue to offer various programming and movie events for all ages.

Banks said that during the closure, staff members visited other libraries in the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System for training and to learn about programs offered at other sites and how they could benefit the Rabun County Public Library, such as the Young Adult section.

“I’m very happy we are able to open so quickly,” said Banks, noting the significant damage.

For a complete PINES list, visit gapines.org. Ebooks and audiobooks can be checked out at https://www.rabuncountylibrary.org/

In addition, free Wifi is available in the library parking lot 24/7.

Stay posted on happenings at the Rabun County Public Library by visiting their Facebook and Instagram social media pages, the website or call 706-782-3731.