The Lake Station-New Chicago branch of the Lake County Public Library is reopening Wednesday, about two months after a small fire forced its closure July 14.
Library officials said Monday work crews thoroughly cleaned the library following the fire that began when the library’s boiler came on, igniting nearby cardboard boxes and plastic buckets.
Because the fire ignited nearby plastic buckets, first responders used a chemical extinguisher to douse the fire, said Lake Station Fire Chief Chuck Fazekas.
Executive director Carol Daumer Gutjahr said the library hired a remediation firm that took air samples to make sure the library was safe to reopen.
“Our initial air quality tests stated it wasn’t ash and carbon in there, just smoke,” said Daumer Gutjahr.
She said air quality tests done last week came back with no findings.
Staff members returned on Monday, checking in new materials purchased when the library was closed.
“They’re getting computers back up and running and taking down the summer reading decorations. Now, we’re getting ready for fall,” she said.
The library’s hours include Monday and Wednesday: 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Regularly scheduled programming will begin in October.
Patrons were told they can direct items to be held at the Lake Station-New Chicago branch by changing the pick-up location by logging into their library account.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.