GENESEO – The Village is working with the Wadsworth Public Library to resolve an apparent flooding issue on Second Street, which last year damaged a row of history books from the library’s 173-year-old original collection.
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At Monday’s Village Board meeting, Library Board of Trustees secretary Carolyn Miesel asked that the Village help in determining the cause of the flooding, which during July 2014’s heavy rains damaged the bottom row of books in storage in the Library’s basement, which are part of the Athenaeum collection established in 1842 by James Wadsworth.
“The books are in deep frozen storage in Mount Morris, and we need to wait until a year or more has passed to see if they can be saved,” said Miesel. “The side door by Center Street is in a steep low spot and there must be a blockage in the drain pipes because whenever we get pounding rains like on Mother’s Day, it floods and apparently can get in.”
Library employees said that work crews came by the Library on Tuesday and Thursday to examine the pipe for blockages.
Miesel added that the Library has since last year acquired a new storm drain just outside of the side door, but it appears to be blocked and there was some pooling of water on Mother’s Day outside the Library by Second Street, though no more books were damaged.
“We’re willing to listen to anyone’s ideas,” added Miesel. “A new drainage system certainly helps, and there is some talk of possibly getting a waterproof door for that side of the Library.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Cover – The library’s vulnerable side door. (Photo/Conrad Baker) Inset – The library. (File image)
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