You know that feeling you get around finals time, when you think that if there was any more stress in your life the ceiling would fall in on you? Well, last night part of a ceiling fell in Hale Library. We are beyond crazy lucky because no one was hurt. But you want the details, don't you?
It all began last night (Tuesday). It's the middle of finals week, so a few hundred students were encamped throughout Hale Library, doggedly studying. Library staff were in the Hemisphere Room brewing caffeine, setting out snacks, and plugging in the Wii for Caffeine Fix. The fire alarm sounded at about 9:40. That's right, 1 degree outside, snow on the ground, and everyone had to evacuate for a fire alarm. There was a column of what appeared to be smoke rising above Historic Farrell Library.
The fire department determined that there was no fire and cleared the building for reentry. Tara "The Cool" Coleman and Dan Ireton, Man of Action, proceeded with brewing the coffee for the Caffeine Fix. And then tutors and students in the Academic Learning Center on the 4th floor noticed the water dripping from the ceiling. And then they noticed that the little garbage cans they dragged over to catch the water were filling up fast. At roughly 10:15, students a floor below reported an explosive noise and water leaking into the Juvenile Literature collection. Jason Coleman, Man with a Plan, called in Tara Coleman (no relation) and Dan Ireton to help assess the situation. Students studying in the area were already dragging furniture out of the way of the water leaks. Jason, Tara, Dan, and some students who had been playing Garage Band at the Caffeine Fix
, rushed to throw plastic tarps over the collection.
The explosion? That would be a huge chunk of the plaster ceiling in the Academic Learning Center falling in.
Campus security and facilities were called in. According to Tara Coleman, facilities staff showed up faster than students lining up for free coffee. And they are superstars. And, the water kept coming in. Our dean and director of building services were called in. It's one of the little known perks of the job. Facilities crews worked overnight to haul out ceiling plaster, wet vac the water for the floors and basically to keep the building standing and the collections dry. They're still here, the water is still dripping.
Here's what we've learned:
We initially thought a steam pipe on the roof broke, resulting in what appeared to be a column of smoke. We've since learned that it was a chilled water line that froze, broke, and separated, pouring water into Hale Library.
Plaster is heavy. Wet plaster is really heavy. Facilities staff hauled out about 1000 pounds of plaster.
Students at K-State are awesome in the face of disasters. Thank you.
It will be months before the cleanup and repairs are completed. Please bear with us.
Between the ice storm last year and the water break this year, we're all taking vacation this time next year. Fall finals are cursed.
Here's where we're lucky:
Despite a swimming pool's worth of water pouring into the building, only 12 books were water damaged. Oh, and the swimming pool estimate, that's mine, not an official figure.
So far, the We Are the Dream Mural hasn't been damaged.
So far, the damage to the historical murals in the Great Room is limited to a water leak in the upper left corner of the Agriculture Mural. Yes, the Agriculture Mural is one of the two that were cleaned this summer.
So far, the computers and technology in path of the water haven't been fried.
Here's what to keep an eye out for:
If you see any brown stains on the ceiling in an area where there isn't already Caution Do Not Enter tape and/or isn't protected by plastic, let us know ASAP. You can contact us via Ask A Librarian or call the Reception Desk at 532-3014. We'd much rather have 20 people telling us than nobody telling us because everyone assumed someone else called reported it.
More ceiling in the Academic Tutoring Center may fall in. If you hear a loud bang or other noise, let us know ASAP.
Please respect the caution tape. If you need a book from a collection that is beyond the tape, ask at the Circulation Desk and we'll retrieve it for you. If you need a place to study, Ask a Librarian and we'll see if we can help you find another location.
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