TRIANA -
Thousands of books have now turned to ashes in Triana.
Something caused the Triana Public Library to go up in flames last night.
Melted chairs, burned books, computers turned to nothing.
"I was actually shocked. I got the call early this morning, earlier that maybe I needed to check on the club that the library was on fire," said Triana Boys & Girls Club Director Joel Lewis.
Joel Lewis, Triana Boys & Girls Club director arrived to see the Triana Public Library on fire. The Boys and Girls Club is connected to the library.
"Just shock, just absolutely in shock. Basically, hurting for the kids. They enjoy coming they love it here and we love to have them," said Lewis.
Librarian Blanche Orr has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into her job. She's been a part of the Triana Library for 12 years.
"Sadness is really not the word. It's almost like somebody has died because it's a part of us. It's not here anymore. So yea I am heartbroken," said Orr.
Heartbroken for the 20 to 25 kids who won't have the library and club to come to in the afternoons.
"Then I started to think about what the kids were going to do when they got off the bus because some of them come directly off the bus and do their homework and without the library you wonder now what are they going to do?" said Orr.
The computers look like they're o.k., but they're no longer usable, due to water and smoke damage.
"A lot of kids may have computers, but internet access has just became readily available and so to be able to come to the club and use those computers on the internet is a great asset and the kids just absolutely love it," said Lewis.
The club just got these computers less than a year ago through a grant. Lewis says he'll start writing another grant today for new computers.
Triana Boys and Girls Club Director Joel Lewis says they plan to move afternoon activities for the kids to a gym connected to city hall.
Fire investigators are still working to figure out what caused the fire. They do know the sprinkler system didn't work Sunday night.
Something caused the Triana Public Library to go up in flames last night.
Melted chairs, burned books, computers turned to nothing.
"I was actually shocked. I got the call early this morning, earlier that maybe I needed to check on the club that the library was on fire," said Triana Boys & Girls Club Director Joel Lewis.
Joel Lewis, Triana Boys & Girls Club director arrived to see the Triana Public Library on fire. The Boys and Girls Club is connected to the library.
"Just shock, just absolutely in shock. Basically, hurting for the kids. They enjoy coming they love it here and we love to have them," said Lewis.
Librarian Blanche Orr has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into her job. She's been a part of the Triana Library for 12 years.
"Sadness is really not the word. It's almost like somebody has died because it's a part of us. It's not here anymore. So yea I am heartbroken," said Orr.
Heartbroken for the 20 to 25 kids who won't have the library and club to come to in the afternoons.
"Then I started to think about what the kids were going to do when they got off the bus because some of them come directly off the bus and do their homework and without the library you wonder now what are they going to do?" said Orr.
The computers look like they're o.k., but they're no longer usable, due to water and smoke damage.
"A lot of kids may have computers, but internet access has just became readily available and so to be able to come to the club and use those computers on the internet is a great asset and the kids just absolutely love it," said Lewis.
The club just got these computers less than a year ago through a grant. Lewis says he'll start writing another grant today for new computers.
Triana Boys and Girls Club Director Joel Lewis says they plan to move afternoon activities for the kids to a gym connected to city hall.
Fire investigators are still working to figure out what caused the fire. They do know the sprinkler system didn't work Sunday night.
