Library branch opens in wake of hurricane

ALBANY — Brewed in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida and then moved throughout southwest Georgia on Oct. 10.

Michael’s high winds and heavy rainfall uprooted trees, disengaged power lines, and made what materials were unsecured into projectiles. One of the most significant injuries upon communities was the widespread power outage.

This single condition led to a medley of challenges for enterprises and households in the increase of dependency and limitations that proved taxing to the daily lives of individuals. Without a power source, lights, air conditioning, and, in some cases, even regular plumbing were unusable.

Yet, as the city quickly launched into the restoration process, facilities were scrambling to reopen to the public. The Dougherty County Library System was among those facilities.

After being placed upon ordinance from the County Commission to remain closed from Oct. 10-11 out of concern for the weather conditions, property damage reviews were rescheduled on the 12th and 13th for administration. However, despite general minimal damage to the interior of the system’s five branches, most were without power and were therefore considered inadequate for public use.

As the only building with a sustaining grid, the Central Library would be the first branch to open since Hurricane Michael. Three days after the powerful storm, Library Director Pauline Abidde would have her staff reassembled in order to serve the community.

“Just the knowledge of how valuable it would be to have library service at the time” prompted the opening,” Abidde said. “We had a lot of people coming in to access the internet, people without communications using the WiFi to contact loved ones. It’s a great place just to get away from that and have a regular afternoon.”

The library director said the Central library “… is a place that is available to the community. There is so much that the library has to offer: internet, computers, job search tools. There are just unlimited resources here that people can put to use.”

File Photo: Carlton Fletcher