ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES

INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SUFFERS SECOND FIRE LOSS

A fire of incendiary origin caused serious damage to the main library building and book collections at Indiana University, Bloomington, on May 1, 1969. This was the second fire in less than eleven weeks to devastate the collections and buildings. The first fire occurred on February 17, 1969. The fire originated in a basement room shelved with oversized volumes. It spread to three adjoining areas on the basement floor as well as to the circulation lobby on the first floor. Limited library service was resumed on May 5. Stacks in the building have been closed to all library patrons.

Library officers have estimated book and journal losses from the fire of May 1 at 40,000 volumes totally destroyed and 27,000 volumes damaged by heat, smoke or water. Many of the damaged books may be salvaged by rebinding. The destroyed or damaged books included monographs and serials in German language and literature, history of the Pacific islands, Spanish and Portuguese history, technology, general science, forestry and agriculture. Grievous losses occurred to the German literature collection in the two fires. More than 50 per cent of this collection has been totally destroyed.

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