MESA, AZ — Following storms earlier in the week, staff at Mesa Express Library spent Wednesday clearing out damaged books as the location faces an indefinite closure.
The Mesa Express Library, located inside Power Square Mall near Baseline Road and Power Road, sustained water damage from storms that passed through Monday night. Water, it appears, was able to make it into the location after wind and rain won the battle with part of the roof that is under construction.
"All sorts of wonderful things happen when you open and read a book and so the loss of all those stories...it was hard to see," said library director Heather Wolf.
Staff told ABC15 the location housed a collection of roughly 7,500 books, with at least half of them likely destroyed by water.
"Losing the location is just a big a deal as losing access to the books," said branch coordinator Joyce Abbott. "We can replace the books. It's hard to lose that location."
It remains unclear whether the express library will reopen in the same location. In the interim, officials say library customers can return items to the remaining Mesa Public Library branches.
Donations are also being accepted to replace the damaged items and can be dropped off at Red Mountain Library. Suggested items are children's books, magazines and DVDs.
