The Glasgow branch of the Kanawha County Public Library is in the town’s municipal building. The book depository is reopening Thursday, Sep. 12, 2024, after a year of repair and renovation from flood damage.
An employee of the Glasgow branch of the Kanawha County Public Library makes finishing preparation on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, for reopening the space this Thursday. The library underwent a year of repair and renovation from flood damage and ensuing mold.
In the middle of a residential block in the Upper Kanawha Valley town of Glasgow, you’ll find the large brick municipal building that houses the police department and mayor’s office. It’s also the home of the Glasgow Branch Library, which has been closed for nearly a year.
Walk down that street, and you’ll hear dogs barking at cars and see children’s toys scattered outside in yards, signaling potential budding readers.
The Glasgow branch of the Kanawha County Public Library is in the town’s municipal building. The book depository is reopening Thursday, Sep. 12, 2024, after a year of repair and renovation from flood damage.
KENNY KEMP | Gazette-Mail
The Glasgow branch of the Kanawha County Public Library, at 129 Fourth Ave., is scheduled to reopen Thursday. It had been closed to repair damage caused by flooding and other water damage.
Gabriella Cochran, who manages the branch, as well as the library system’s bookmobile, said her staff has worked for the past month shelving and organizing over 2,000 books in the small space nestled in the Glasgow Municipal Building.
According to Cochran, the library has been open since 1976, just a year after the multipurpose building that houses it was constructed.
Since then, it has served the community of Glasgow, population 703, according to 2020 U.S. Census figures.
Cochran said KCPL’s bookmobile outreach program and the Glasgow Branch Library are critical resources for young and old readers alike in the area.
For September, the librarian hopes to see a flood of new library card registrations for the American Library Association’s .
‘We just kept getting flooded’
The Glasgow Library has faced temporary closure before from recurring water damage caused by sloped pavement adjacent to the municipal building. Library officials confirmed that rainwater would flow down the pavement straight into the library, damaging carpet, shelving and books.
This forced the library to close in March 2022. It tried to reopen in early 2023, but Kanawha County Public Library Director Erika Connelly explained that water-related issues — like mold exposure — remained, and the library was forced to close again.
“They had a very serious mold issue,†the director said. “It destroyed carpet, it destroyed books. They cleaned it up once, and it happened all over again.â€
An employee of the Glasgow branch of the Kanawha County Public Library makes finishing preparation on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, for reopening the space this Thursday. The library underwent a year of repair and renovation from flood damage and ensuing mold.
KENNY KEMP | Gazette-Mail
Since it was a known issue and not an act of nature, “we couldn’t get insurance to cover it,†Connelly said. “Mildew and books do not work together.â€
According to Connelly, the city was helpful and proactive in partnering with the county to fix the problem. from the County Commission, which helped Glasgow with repair efforts.
“Both the town and County Commission have been longtime, significant and supportive partners,†she said. “We’ve enjoyed working with them for decades. Now that we’re dry and tight, the library is coming back in.â€
A new chapter
A new parking lot and updated sidewalks will greet patrons at the grand reopening on Thursday.
People also may utilize two public computers connected to free Wi-Fi.
“We’re hoping those issues are rectified and we can keep consistent operating hours here now,†Cochran said. “It has been inconsistent in the past few years, on top of everything with COVID.â€
The only full day of service per week for the location will be Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cochran said the best way for the community to have more open hours in the future is to come to the library and demonstrate a need.
Cochran, who grew up in nearby Marmet, noted the importance of the small library branches she grew up perusing.
“Even though Glasgow is a small community, the eastern region of Kanawha County is kind of a geographical challenge,†she said, “because there are so many people disbursed over that section of the county, which is why small community libraries are very important.â€
She said these smaller branches prevent people who border on Fayette County, for example, from having to drive all the way to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä for library services.
“We would love to see people in here who have never visited this branch before, people can come in and get their library card,†Cochran said. “With that card, they can access the entire KCPL collection, audiobooks and all kinds of stuff.â€
Anyone with a Kanawha County library card can listen to audiobooks and check out additional e-books on apps, such as Hoopla and Libby. Patrons also may request to borrow titles at other library branches.
Additional KCPL closures
The Kanawha County Public Library’s two-story St. Albans Branch Library, located at 602 Fourth St., closed Thursday for abatement work. The branch is expected to reopen with limited library service on its first floor on Sept. 23.
The second floor will reopen once the project is complete. During construction, the KCPL bookmobile will offer library services in the St. Albans branch parking lot on:
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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