Monday night's rainfall damaged 43 volumes of books stored on the seventh floor of McKeldin Library when water leaked into the building and collapsed part of the ceiling.
Library officials said the leak could have done serious damage if a student hadn't notified the front desk as quickly as he or she did.
Facilities Management had been repairing an air intake and filter unit on the library's roof but had to postpone work when they realized they needed to order another part, Library Facilities Manager Grant Hess said.
Workers left a tarp covering the open unit, but the storm's winds blew it away, allowing water to pour into a mechanical room on the roof. The water seeped into the ceiling, causing four ceiling tiles to collapse. When the ceiling caved in, water damaged the obstetrics, menopause and midwifery section in front of the periodical stacks.
Library employees laid the books out to air-dry immediately, putting a fan near them to help speed up the process.
Most of the books are in salvageable condition, but one paperback was damaged and will have to be replaced.
Hess said he was thankful the leak became apparent so soon rather than staying hidden for longer and causing more damage.
Draper said the university doesn't have a damage estimate yet. He said the books would have been damaged beyond repair if the leak had gone unreported for as little as 48 hours.
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