Lower Level Of West Orange Library Reopens To Public After Sewer Backup

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The lower level of the West Orange Public Library is open again after it was damaged during a sewer backup last summer, administrators recently announced.

Last week, the library announced that the lower level is now open. Administrators thanked patrons for their patience during remediation efforts.

A plumbing emergency took place at the library in July when “unclean water” seeped across 920 square feet in the lower level. Library staff launched immediate remediation efforts to contain the damage.

Although the rest of the library was eventually reopened, the lower level has remained off-limits to the public – until now, administrators reported.

Here are five things to know, library staff said in an update on Oct. 9:

1. Quiet study, reference desk, adult books, public computers and computer lab are all available.
2. Weekly Tech Talk classes are back in the computer lab Wednesdays 2-4 (weekend sessions coming soon).
3. The remediation was completed in July and the damaged carpet tiles have all been replaced and the books are back on the shelves.
4. No books were damaged.
5. The environment is clean and safe. We have deployed HEPA filter air scrubbers as an additional precaution

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