Yorktown Public Library to spend the rest of the year remediating flood damage

Since the August historic flooding that sent multiple feet of water into Yorktown, the small town’s library has started to rebuild.  IPR’s Abby Urban gives us an update.

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00;01;44;26 - 00;01;55;08 Abby Urban Staff at Yorktown Library have helped in removing all the bottom shelves, floor tiles and soaked drywall from a building that in August had knee deep water. Liz Rozelle is the library's director. 00;01;55;15 - 00;02;08;20 Liz Rozelle I try to rally my staff and to, you know, not only are we going to reopen, but maybe it'll be better. We can do a little tweak here or there that might make things even better for patrons and staff. 00;02;08;24 - 00;02;28;14 Abby Urban With renovations and loss of library materials, like books and computers, Rozelle estimates the cost to reopen will be more than $ 70,000. Although the restoration process has begun, they are not expected to reopen until January. And until then, youth services assistant Mallory Pedro is thinking of the kids who used to spend many hours at the library. 00;02;28;16 - 00;02;35;01 Mallory Pedro I feel like they are my kids too. I would do just for them like I would do for my son. 00;02;35;08 - 00;02;36;29 Abby Urban I'm Abby Urban in Yorktown.

Staff at Yorktown Library have helped in removing all the bottom shelves, floor tiles, and soaked dry wall from a building that in August had knee-deep water.

Liz Rozelle is the library’s director.

“I tried to rally my staff, and not only are we going to reopen, but maybe it will be better. We can do a little tweak here and there, that might make things even better for patrons and staff. “

The library lost over 3,600 pieces of physical media, from books and newspapers to movies. With that and renovations, Rozelle estimates the cost to reopen will be more than $70,000.

Although the restoration process has begun, they are not expected to reopen until January.

For Yorktown library patrons, support has come in from Muncie Public Libraries and Anderson Public Libraries, offering free site-specific library cards.

Support has come in from farther afield, too.

“It’s been phenomenal, and it’s not just Yorktown, it’s not just Delaware County,” said Rozelle, “it’s all across Indiana and the whole country. Some had a connection to Yorktown, some just love public libraries.”

And until then, Youth Services Assistant Mallory Pedro is thinking of the kids who used to spend many hours at the library.

“I feel like they are my kids, too. I would do just for them like I would do for my son. It is nice to have a role in their lives.”

Currently, the library is not taking any book donations.  Ways to contribute include giving a monetary donation or buying Yorktown Public Library-branded merchandise online.

Abby Urban is a news fellow with Ball State Public Media’s Public Media Accelerator student fellowships.