The Oxford Intermediate School library is currently awaiting repairs following damage from a rainstorm earlier this month.

The LOU community had an estimated three inches of rainfall within an hour, which caused flash floods, multiple car accidents and standing water at Oxford-University Stadium, postponing the Oxford regional baseball tournament.

OIS was not immune to the rainfall, with a roof drain becoming detached during the storm, which ultimately caused it to give way and sent water rushing into the library, according to Oxford School District Superintendent rian Harvey. When the damage was discovered, there were approximately two to three inches of standing water in the library.

OIS Principal Steven Hurdle said the library is currently empty, awaiting repairs.

“The OIS library suffered damage to flooring, bookcases and fixtures, as well as some books,” Hurdle said. “Currently, the library is completely empty awaiting new flooring, repairs to walls and replacement shelving.”

The good news, Hurdle said, is that the school was able to save a large majority of the books, as well as some tables and chairs.

While he was out of town on the day of the incident, Hurdle commended Harvey, assistant principal Duncan Gray and the OSD maintenance crew for their actions to prevent the water from doing more damage than it did.

The OSD Board of Trustees approved a request for emergency repairs to the library during a meeting on Monday night. Doing so, Harvey said, was the first step toward making necessary repairs.

“Several of us were there, pushing water out. This resolution is necessary, because with the water in there, we had to take out the circulation desk, all of the shelving had to be salvaged,” Harvey said. “The good part of this is, there were stacks of iPads, carts, the books were there, and we had moved all of those items out of the library that morning, so the only thing that was left was the shelving units.”

Although the library materials were moved elsewhere, Harvey said the projected cost of repairs could be over $50,000, an amount which qualifies as an emergency use.

The damage is covered under the school’s insurance plan, but Harvey explained that the money must first be paid by the district.

“Even though we have insurance coverage, we still have to extend the funds per state law, so that’s what we’re doing,” he said.