The new library in Turnov was damaged by a torrential rain and will not open at the beginning of September

Turnov – The heavy rain from last week damaged the new municipal library in Turnov, which cost over 115 million crowns to build. As a result, the library will not open at the beginning of September. Water entered the building and damaged the walls, part of the new furniture, the computer system, and about 1,000 books. According to city hall spokesperson Marcela Jandová, the extent of the damage has not yet been assessed.

"Currently, the drying of the spaces is taking place, the inventory of damages is underway, and work is beginning to remove the defects in the building,” the spokesperson stated in a press release.

Water entered the building last week during the heavy rain overnight from Friday to Saturday. "It seems that there was a blockage in the drainage system on the roof of the library's new building. The water subsequently penetrated through the entire height of the building, all the way to the lower part of the structure, including the children's section,” Jandová added.

The city hall wanted to open the library on September 1st, but no alternative date has yet been set. "We are very sorry that the opening of the new library, which the residents of the city, library staff, and everyone involved in its construction were looking forward to, will have to wait a little longer. We will do everything we can to ensure the building can be safely and fully operational as soon as possible. We expect to delay the opening until the end of September at the latest,” said Mayor Tomáš Hocke (Independent Bloc).

The Antonín Marka Library in Turnov is one of the oldest in the country, with a collection of about 35,000 titles. The previous building on Jeronýmova Street was not sufficient to meet its needs, lacking adequate hygiene and visitor facilities and also not being barrier-free. The new library will be located on Skálová Street between the summer cinema and the house Na Sboře. Its design refers to the symbols of the Český ráj, resembling a rocky gorge, and it will feature a reading area on the roof with a pine tree typical of rocky viewpoints.