Parts of the R.M. Cooper Library will reopen on Wednesday, January 11, following a pipe leak over the holiday break that caused significant water damage in the northwest corner of the building. The second, fourth, fifth and sixth floors will be open, while the first and third floors will remain closed for more extensive repairs.
Portions of the second and fourth floors, such as the Brown Room (416), will remain closed for repairs, and other areas may be temporarily closed while new carpeting is installed. Patrons are asked to follow posted safety instructions in all affected areas throughout the building. Collections on the first and third floors will be unavailable for patrons to browse, and access to certain materials may be limited.
Cooper will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. The library will be closed the entire MLK holiday weekend, January 14-16, to allow for repair work to continue.
All library services, such as Interlibrary Loan, reserves, research consultations, and technology lending, will continue as usual. Patrons who need assistance can ask at the Cooper Library services desk on the fourth floor or online via the Libraries’ chat service.
Study space capacity is reduced due to the closure of the first and third floors. Students who need study space may want to consider other areas around campus, such as the Academic Success Center, the Watt Family Innovation Center, the Brackett Hall atrium, the Tiger Den at the Hendrix Student Center and Humanities Hall.
The leak occurred on December 24 when a pipe burst in a heating unit on the fifth floor due to extremely cold temperatures. Areas most affected by the water damage include the Scholars’ Lab, the popular reading section, the POD Market, the Brown Room, the juvenile book collection room, the 309 classroom, the Interlibrary Loan offices, the Clemson University Press offices, study areas on the first floor and some of the books in the compact shelving on the first floor. Approximately 1,200 collection items were damaged by water and need to be replaced, and damage assessment for collections is continuing.
“I am grateful to our facilities team and all the library faculty and staff who have pulled together to help us reopen Cooper in time for classes to start,” said Clemson Libraries Dean Chris Cox. “We know how important the library’s collections, services and spaces are to our students, faculty and staff, and while it is unfortunate that this incident occurred, we are working hard to ensure that the services we provide to the University are not disrupted.”
More information can be found on the Libraries’ FAQ page.