Library window crashes down, causing significant damage

Crews are still cleaning up the aftermath of a scary incident at the Washington Public Library.

On Friday, a large pane of glass that served as one of the decorative interior windows in the upper level of the library, fell to the main floor and shattered.

“There was only one patron in the library at the time, thankfully,” library Director Bryna Walker said. “No one was seriously injured, but the library did sustain significant damage.”

She said that two people sustained minor injuries from the glass.

That Friday, someone noticed that the pane of 5/8-inch thick safety glass looked like it was off track.

“We called our maintenance tech, and he tried to push it back on track,” Walker said. “That’s when it crashed down.”

The damage was so severe that the library will have to place carpet on the main level, as well as many books from both the adult and children’s areas.

“There’s just no way of knowing if we got all the glass out without replacing it,” Walker said.

Cleanup crews from Servpro were at the library Wednesday doing a deep clean.

“We’re in cleanup mode right now,” Walker said.

The library is only offering curbside printing, copying and faxing while the cleanup is going on.

Walker said that she hopes to be able to open the library doors on Friday for basic services.

“The third floor and several areas on the main floor will be blocked off until we can safely open them to the public,” she said. “We’ll have warning signs reminding people to wear shoes. We may have to close the children’s area.”

Walker said that the original architect and construction company were summoned to the library to inspect the other interior windows.

“They deemed them safe,” she said.