ANU closes library following flash flooding

A flash flood in Canberra has caused damage to books at Australian National University’s (ANU) Chifley Library, with the library announcing it will be closed until further notice, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Half a metre of water filled level one of the library, the biggest and busiest of the university’s five libraries, causing damage to items stored on that level, as well as taking out the electrical system and IT infrastructure for the building.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 164.4mm of rain in 48 hours from 10am Saturday, 24 February, causing Sullivan’s Creek to break its banks and flood the library, the AD Hope building and a redevelopment of the Union Court.

ANU has announced that the library will be closed until further notice. Around 22,000 students and 4500 staff were asked to stay away from the university on Monday as it closed for the  first time in a decade.

Category: Library news