Lee Road Library Closed Due to Flooding

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Lee Road Library's basement flooded Wednesday* afternoon, damaging files and old artwork but causing little or no damage to the building, Director Nancy Levin said.

Library staff noticed water in the basement at about 1:30 p.m., and Levin ordered the library to close immediately in case the building's electricity and elevators had to be shut off.

Water was still rising at that point, she said, and about two inches were standing in the south end of the basement at the flood's peak. 

Staff members pitched in to remove files, artwork and blueprints from the file room in the flooded area of the basement. "The staff reacted so quickly," said Levin.

The files that were damaged can be copied, she said, and only two of the library's own books were damaged.

Hundreds of books to be sold in the Friends of the Library's May book sale were packed in boxes in the flooded area, but a few of the books were lost.

It's too early to tell what the damage cost the library, and most items lost do not have a monetary value, said Levin, but no damage was done to the building, its mechanical systems or elevators.

The library is expected to be open during normal hours Thursday.*

Editor's Note: The writer of this article apparently thought it was only Tuesday when she wrote this article and reported that this flood happened on the wrong day. The days — and the confused editor — have been corrected.