THE SOUTHERN

CARBONDALE - Heavy rain Tuesday flooded portions of Morris Library's basement at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, but officials say the damage to books was minimal.

David Carlson, dean of library affairs, said more than one and a half inches of rain fell in about one hour Tuesday afternoon, overwhelming some the temporary water pumps construction crews placed in the building's basement.

Carlson said about an inch of water pooled on the floor but only a small number of books stored on the basement level were damaged. The water stopped short of reaching the lowest levels of the book shelves, which Carlson admitted, could have made the situation a great deal worse.

Workers will start laying new discharge piping from the south side of the library Thursday, and the west half of the covered walkway on the side of the building closest to Thompson Woods will be closed for 48 hours.

People can still access the south entrance of the library but will have to enter the covered walkway through at the east end of the building near Faner Hall.