Peyton Smith received a text message from the Jackson-Hinds Library System executive director on a recent Saturday asking for help.
“It was an SOS,” he said.
Floyd Council, executive director of the Jackson-Hinds Library System, texted Smith and the other library system board of trustee members on Jan. 28 to let them know a pipe in one of the restrooms at the Willie Morris Library in Jackson had burst, causing water to freely flow, and ask for help alerting city leaders about the situation.
“It was a huge mess,” Smith said. “There was a great deal of water throughout the facility. It was an all-hands on deck endeavor. Everybody was making as many phone calls as they could, trying to get the situation addressed so we could minimize the damage.”
The teamwork set the wheels in motion for repairs to stop the gushing water and to hire a company that specializes in water damage restoration services, he said.
Smith credits the Willie Morris Library branch manager with managing a difficult situation and the city of Jackson for responding as quickly as possible.
The Willie Morris Library has been closed since due to “unforeseen operational difficulties,” according to a sign on one of the building’s doors.
Fans were blowing inside the library a week after the pipe burst.
Maintenance issues at the system’s libraries are a priority for the board, Smith said.
“We’re working on things to get the facilities on a more stable footing,” he said. “We feel like we’ve made some progress in terms of our ability to communicate with the city. We do think the city is paying attention.”
Council did not want to speak about the Willie Morris Library and said media inquiries should go to the city of Jackson.
The system has seven branches in Jackson and seven in Hinds County. The city of Jackson and Hinds County provide the buildings for the branches and the system handles the library functions. By law, the city and county must each maintain the buildings they own that serve as library branches.
Building maintenance issues have meant closures from time-to-time at the Eudora Welty Library because of HVAC problems during hot weather.
The Richard Wright Library in south Jackson has developed major roof leaks and the air conditioning unit has been stolen. There has been repeated vandalism at the building, and it isn’t currently in serviceable condition.
