Fire on Roof of National Library of Wales Causes Water Damage to Collection

Update (April 29) National Library of Wales fire: Damaged items taken to Oxford (via BBC)
Update (April 28) National Library of Wales fire ‘worst moment in its history’ (via BBC)

From WalesOnline.co.uk:

Part of the collection at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is thought to have suffered water damage following a major fire yesterday.
[Clip]
…Arwel Jones, director of public services at the library, said water used to fight the flames on Friday had leaked through five or six floors.
“All that water being poured into the top of the building has literally poured through five or six floors, so there’s water damage all through that part of the building,” Mr Jones said.
“That’s damage to the structure of the building and to the offices and, of course, any collections that were being worked on at the time.

From the BBC (Includes Video):

A specialist salvage company from Oxford has been assessing the damage caused to the collection.
Library staff said it was not known how the fire started, but everyone was safe.
Aled Gruffydd Jones, who takes over as head librarian in August, said on Friday that he was puzzled by how the fire could have started. “Clearly we need an inquiry,” he added.

See Also: National Library of Wales – 27/04/2013 Fire Update

Filed under: Libraries, National Libraries, News