Yesterday afternoon, during a particularly heavy fall of rain, it was all hands to the pump in the library, when one of our users rushed from the shelves to say there was water streaming down a wall and on to our folio collection.
While one of us phoned for plastic sheeting, I raced with bucket and cloths down to the area where two people were grabbing books from the affected shelves and stacking them on the floor out of harm’s way. By the time the plastic sheeting arrived, the shelves affected by the leaks were cleared and we draped plastic sheeting over the surrounding shelves to cover the contents from splashes. I was then able to turn my attention to the books on the floor, mopping them and standing them to air.
While all this was going on a Museum staff member on a ladder, investigated the leak from outside the building, and the cause of the problem was revealed. A plastic DVD case, hurled from the next door appartment building, had landed in the gutter and blocked the downpipe. While many objects thrown from the appartments are found on the roof (why??), this was the first time that one had lodged in such an awkward place. Anyway, as soon as it was removed, the leaking stopped.
Well, the books are now dry and safe, Today’s job is to put them back in order and on the shelves!