Mars library closes Tuesday due to flooding damage from winter storm
Although January’s sizable snowstorm is more than a week in the past, its effects are still being felt.
The Mars Area Public Library on Grand Avenue was forced to close its doors on Tuesday, Feb. 3 due to flooding damage it sustained as a result of the winter storm.
According to library director Janae Callihan, the leaks were caused by ice dams that formed along the roof. Callihan says the damage was first spotted on Thursday, Jan. 29, and was initially contained to a small area before it spread.
“While the initial leaks were contained within staff-only areas, the situation escalated quickly and began impacting public spaces, which ultimately led to our decision to temporarily close the building for safety and preservation reasons,” Callihan said.
In a statement to the Butler Eagle, Callihan warned that the repair process might be costly and a strain on the library’s finances.
“We are facing what will likely be a costly repair process, including remediation and replacement of damaged drywall and carpeting,” Callihan said. “While we are assessing the full scope of the damage and next steps, we know this will place additional strain on our resources.
“As we navigate repairs and recovery, we welcome the community’s continued support as we work to ensure the library remains a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”
Callihan says that the library staff acted quickly to prevent the library’s materials from damage.
“Thankfully, at this time no part of the circulation collection has been lost,” Callihan said. “I want to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our staff, who have been monitoring leaks, moving materials, and working diligently to minimize damage under challenging conditions.”
This marks the second time in just over a week that the library was forced to close its doors. Like so many other public spaces, the library closed on Monday, Jan. 26 in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
Callihan told the Butler Eagle that she hopes for the closure not to be a long-term one, although she also said another closure on Wednesday was not out of the question.
“We are hoping that this will be just today and possibly tomorrow with the closure... but we do plan to avoid any long-term closures,” Callihan said.
According to past Butler Eagle reporting, the current Mars library location was originally constructed in 1928 as a machine shop, and was purchased by the Mars Area Public Library in 1994.
In 2024, Mars and Adams Township jointly announced an effort to replace the building with a new structure to be located elsewhere on Grand Avenue in Mars, at the site of the former Mars Bank structure. Plans for the new library building include a NASA-backed “discovery center” and a NexTier Bank branch.
