Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The majority of the 2nd floor of the Rochester Public Library will be reopened to the public on Tuesday morning.

The entire 2nd level of the library has been off-limits to the public since September 22nd when a faulty water softener created a major water leak that damaged portions of all 3 floors of the library. The damage on the main level was limited and it was reopened within a couple of days of the water leak.

Library officials say the auditorium and the 2nd floor were the most affected by the water, along with staff workspaces and storage areas. The damaged areas of the 2nd level will remain closed to the public while the repairs continue. Computer lab and group study areas are also being reassigned for staff use and some other second-floor services will also not be available, including test proctoring, Digital Drop-In services, and the new Convert-O-Lab.

“Our second-floor spaces are used not only for the valuable non-fiction collection but also for additional seating and reading spaces and private study rooms,” says Library Director Audrey Betcher, “As a staff, we decided reopening at least part of the second floor needed to be a priority.”

Betcher says crews spent much of last week moving furniture and creating temporary barriers to allow space for the contractors to work on fixing the damage.

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