Iowa deals with flood-damaged libraries

Most libraries in Iowa escaped the flooding that recently ravaged the state, and in many cases are serving as important information hubs where residents can go online and apply for aid, send e-mails, or use maps to figure out how to get around closed roads. That's the good news, according to an article by Megan Hawkins in the Des Moines Register.

The bad news is that a few libraries, including the Cedar Rapids library and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in that same city, sustained significant damage. Furthermore, because Cedar Rapids suffered such widespread damage, library repair is low on the priority list.

At the Cedar Rapids library, the rare collection of original children's book illustrations gathered over the years by Evelyn Zerzanek (featured on page 32 of the April/May 2008 issue of Reading Today) was moved to the second floor and later evacuated.

For further information, read the full story.