Heavy Rains Soak Library Books Again

The Thousand Oaks Library, which has experienced leaks since it opened eight years ago, suffered its worst water damage to date during heavy rains last weekend and its roof and gutters may have to be replaced, officials said Tuesday.

Director of Library Services Marvin Smith said “dozens and dozens” of books had been ruined, including six to eight rare volumes on the history and art of book binding. An assessment of damages was still under way Tuesday.

In addition, Smith said, large areas of carpet were soaked and buckling, paint was peeling off the walls in his office, and the computer room had been inundated with half an inch of water Saturday night. The computer was not damaged, however.

The library was closed Sunday for cleaning and immediate repairs, and again Monday for Martin Luther King’s birthday. It reopened Tuesday.

Smith and City Manager Grant W. Brimhall said the 60,000-square-foot library, which cost $9 million to build, has had leaks since it opened in 1982. Both officials attributed most of the leaks to an inadequate gutter system and said previous discussions with the architect and contractor had proven futile.

A spokesman for the architect, Albert C. Martin and Associates of Los Angeles, could not be reached for comment.

Brimhall estimated the city had spent between $50,000 and $100,000 on temporary repairs and said “more dramatic action” seems necessary, such as complete replacement of the roof and gutters.

“We cannot have a library that leaks,” Brimhall said. “People come to the library to read books, not take showers.”

City Atty. Mark Sellers said he would review a file on the history of problems at the library before deciding whether to file a lawsuit. But Brimhall said he hoped to avoid going to court.

The Thousand Oaks Library, whose modern design has won several awards, holds 265,000 volumes and circulates 1.4 million materials a year, an amount comparable to the circulation of all 17 branches of Ventura County’s library system, Smith said.