WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Libraries Use New Dropboxes to Prevent Fires (Wethersfield-WTNH) _ Some local libraries are playing it safe after a devastating fire destroyed nearly everything in its path. In February of '96 someone dropped a burning object into a book deposit at the Danbury library. The resulting fire destroyed thousands of books, video tapes, CD's and computers. Now area libraries are taking action to prevent something like that from happening again. News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has details. You wouldn't think a public library needs to confront the possibility of arson but it does. Liz Kirkpatrick, Wethersfield Library: "We saw the danger when Danbury had its fire and lost its entire adult collection as well as many other things." It was back in 1996 when investigators say a woman dropped a lit cigarette down the Danbury library's book drop. 100,000 volumes of books, tapes and CDs were destroyed in the blaze. In an effort to prevent fires, Wethersfield built a $2,000 fireproof book drop. The books used to drop right into this work area. Kirkpatrick: "Now it drops into a room that is sealed from the rest of the building to make it fireproof and explosion proof." To prevent more arsons, the state library now requires any library that gets a state construction grant to include a fireproof book drop in that project. Residents who use the library weekly say its a good idea. Everything from the 1916 annual town reports to the 1944 Wethersfield High School yearbook is irreplaceable. Catherine Gorzkowski, Wethersfield: "I think its excellent. We don't want to lose any of our books. Books are a precious commodity." So is the town mural, which is a town treasure. And it seems this simple chute has given many peace of mind. Kirkpatrick: "When the library is closed, I'm not worried about what might happen when we are not here." Some libraries have opted for book drops similar to mailboxes outside of the building. But Wethersfield says with this drop, it makes their work more efficient and it protects books from being damaged when they are carried back to the library. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Libraries Use New Dropboxes to Prevent Fires
(Wethersfield-WTNH) _ Some local libraries are playing it safe after a devastating fire destroyed nearly everything in its path. In February of '96 someone dropped a burning object into a book deposit at the Danbury library. The resulting fire destroyed thousands of books, video tapes, CD's and computers. Now area libraries are taking action to prevent something like that from happening again.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has details.

You wouldn't think a public library needs to confront the possibility of arson but it does.

Liz Kirkpatrick, Wethersfield Library: "We saw the danger when Danbury had its fire and lost its entire adult collection as well as many other things."

It was back in 1996 when investigators say a woman dropped a lit cigarette down the Danbury library's book drop. 100,000 volumes of books, tapes and CDs were destroyed in the blaze. In an effort to prevent fires, Wethersfield built a $2,000 fireproof book drop. The books used to drop right into this work area.

Kirkpatrick: "Now it drops into a room that is sealed from the rest of the building to make it fireproof and explosion proof."

To prevent more arsons, the state library now requires any library that gets a state construction grant to include a fireproof book drop in that project.

Residents who use the library weekly say its a good idea. Everything from the 1916 annual town reports to the 1944 Wethersfield High School yearbook is irreplaceable.

Catherine Gorzkowski, Wethersfield: "I think its excellent. We don't want to lose any of our books. Books are a precious commodity."

So is the town mural, which is a town treasure. And it seems this simple chute has given many peace of mind.

Kirkpatrick: "When the library is closed, I'm not worried about what might happen when we are not here."

Some libraries have opted for book drops similar to mailboxes outside of the building. But Wethersfield says with this drop, it makes their work more efficient and it protects books from being damaged when they are carried back to the library.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.