Donation will help replace books

A $15,000 donation, along with a previous $10,000 grant, will help the Central Library recover the books it lost when a pipe burst in April, officials announced.

The April 9 flood ruined more than 1,000 library books in the travel, history and biography sections. Many of the books were out of print and can’t be replaced, but the influx of money should cover the estimated $25,000 recovery cost, library officials said.

Mickey Pierce, president of the Friends of the Burbank Public Library, presented the $15,000 check to Mayor Jess Talamantes at the Oct. 18 Burbank City Council meeting.

Library Services Director Sharon Cohen said the donation would help her department recover from the loss in April.

“This check will go a long way to filling all those empty shelves in the non-fiction section,” Cohen said. “We’re very grateful to have such a generous organization as the Friends to back us up in times of trouble.”

A Gwendolyn Sexton Foundation grant for $10,000 was received this summer, along with individual donations after the news spread of the damage, Cohen said.

Today is the last day of the semi-annual Friends of the Burbank Library Used Book sale, which began on Monday.

The book sale is one of the primary fundraising efforts of the organization. Proceeds from the book sales fund library programming, including the children’s and Teen Summer Reading Clubs, cultural and educational events for children and adults, and many special purchases for the library.

Another sale is scheduled for the spring and usually takes place the last week in April, Cohen said.

The Friends of the Burbank Public Library is a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support through fundraising activities.