LOWELL, MA (WBZ-AM) -- A burst pipe inside the Pollard Memorial Library over the weekend has caused damage to several books, artifacts and other library resources leaving many of its patrons shut out.
Now library staff and city officials are rushing to save rare books and clean up the mess.
They say that the frozen pipe, located in the attic burst at some point during the weekend sending an estimated 5,000 gallons of water gushing from the ceilings and light fixtures.
At the height of the flooding it sounded it like was raining -- inside the library.
They believe severe wind and cold is to blame when portion of the attic which is usually open to let warm air in was left closed.
Among the rare books destroyed were books about the Commonwealth's history as far back as the Revolutionary and Civil War.
"Documents that address people from the city of Lowell who were in the Revolutionary war, the Civil war," said Assistant City Manager Mike McGovern.
"A lot of those types of books were damaged. We're going to send them out to a special company that will actually freeze the books and kill any potential mold spores that would be growing in the books," he said.
Mike McGovern says rugs, computer and furniture were also damaged. They figure it will cost about $300,000 thousand dollars to repair the damage.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Kim Tunnlicliffe reports.