The Kent Library will remained closed for four to six weeks after water and smoke damage from a small fire on Dec. 3. COURTESY PHOTO, King County Library System

The Kent Library will remained closed for four to six weeks after water and smoke damage from a small fire on Dec. 3. COURTESY PHOTO, King County Library System

Kent Library to remain closed for 4-6 weeks after water damage from fire

Drop box fire Dec. 3 caused sprinkler system to activate

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.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

File photo
Man sentenced in Federal Way rock throwing death

Judi Kilma retrieved a fist-sized rock after a man punctured one of the tires on Kilma’s bicycle.

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 11-25

Incidents include commercial burglary, DUI arrest

Flowers for slain trooper Chris Gadd begin to collect outside Washington State Patrol District 7 Headquarters on Saturday, March 2 in Marysville. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Lynnwood man pleads not guilty in crash that killed WSP trooper

Raul Benitez Santana arraigned Tuesday on vehicular homicide charge in Trooper Chris Gadd’s death.

Captain Ron Mead and Corporal Alexis Robinson embrace during a memorial for Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd on Tuesday, March 12 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Man was reportedly driving 112 mph before crashing into Trooper Gadd

Charging documents reveal details of March 2 crash that killed Kentlake High graduate

t
Kent apartment shooting injures man, woman on East Hill

Incident began Sunday, March 24 as domestic dispute; woman’s brother gets involved and shots are fired

Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Families forgive Kent suspect involved in fatal crash near Renton

High-speed collision March 19 killed four; families of victims call to make the roads safer

t
Kent mayor plans to keep fighting for sales tax to hire more police

State of the City address also touches on new restaurants, roundabouts and walking paths

t
Crews to begin work on $13.8 million final phase of 76th Avenue upgrade

Street to be raised above Mill Creek floodplain, paved with concrete; bridges to replace culverts

t
Smoke alarms help Kent family of five escape house fire

Firefighters rescue one male from roof in March 19 fire on East Hill

File photo
Victims identified in ‘mass casualty’ collision that killed four near Renton | Update

Detectives say the collision was caused by an 18-year-old driver.

t
Semi-truck rollover blocks Green River Bridge in Auburn

Traffic had to be diverted from State Route 18; heavy impact on Kent streets

t
Seattle church’s donation to cover asylum seekers bill at Kent hotel

Group to remain at Kent Quality Inn for two more weeks