The Kent Library will remained closed for four to six weeks after water damage from its sprinkler system following a fire in the book drop.
“A fire in the book drop at the Kent Library resulted in smoke and water damage in the building,” according to a King County Library System statement. “The Kent Library will be closed for repairs until further notice. Our facilities department anticipates the library may reopen in 4-6 weeks. The timeline depends on the extent of damages. We will share a reopening date when known.”
Puget Sound Fire responded to a sprinkler water flow alarm just before 6 a.m. Dec. 2, according to Pat Pawlak, Puget Sound Fire spokesman. The library is downtown at 212 Second Ave. N.
“Firefighters arrived and found that that had been a fire in the book drop,” Pawlak said. “A single sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
All holds by customers that were ready for pickup at Kent have been marked as damaged. Patrons with holds ready for pickup at the Kent Library have been placed at the top of the holds queues.
“We will get you the next available copy as soon as possible,” according to the library system’s statement. “These holds will automatically be sent to the Kent Panther Lake Library.”
The Kent Panther Lake Library is at 20500 108th Ave. SE, and its phone number is 253-854-0211.
Customers, who previously selected Kent as the pickup location for any holds, will be sent to Kent Panther Lake. If you want to pick up your holds at another location during the closure, you can update pick-up locations in your account. For assistance, please call the King County Library System at 425-462-9600 or 800-462-9600.
Customers will not be able to select Kent as a pickup location for future holds or prints until the library reopens.
The book drop and self-check-in kiosks at Kent also will be unavailable during the closure. Please return items to nearby locations. Due dates have not been automatically extended.
“However, we understand that you may need extra time to accommodate this change,” according to the library system statement. “Please know that we are not currently collecting late fees.”
Wireless internet access remains available outside the Kent Library from 8 a.m. to 9:10 p.m.
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