The Gloucester Library is mostly back to normal operations at its main branch following a water leak in the building about a month ago, library director Diane Rebertus said last Tuesday.

However, the periodical room still had not been reopened to the public as of Monday because of problems with the carpet. Some newspapers are available at the circulation desk, and staff can retrieve magazines for patrons.

Public works director Garrey Curry said last Wednesday that the library can reopen its periodical area if it chooses, noting that while the carpet is now dry, it has shrunk around the edges.

Curry said the county is working with its insurance carrier to see what resolution can be made for the carpet. Some of the carpet—"the purple sections"—might be replaced, he said.

Curry said that county buildings and grounds crews checked carpet left over from the original carpet job to see if there was enough purple carpet to replace the affected areas. There was not. The final resolution might be either to purchase new carpet, Curry said, or to make other arrangements to seal the areas where the carpet has shrunk.

The carpet damage occurred when a water device—a back flow preventer—failed. Fortunately, only clean, not waste, water flooded the rear third of the main library, located at Main Street Center. Quick action by county custodians helped stave off extensive repairs at the Gloucester Library following the water problem, Curry said.

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