Olympic College Library Roof Collapse

Olympic College Library Roof Collapse

In December 1996 a heavy snow storm caused the roof of the Olympic College Learning Resources Center building to collapse. Much of the Reference collection was destroyed. What could be salvaged was done in one day. A crane was brought in to lift and remove sections of the roof resting on portions of the shelving and as each section was removed, staff was allowed in to box as many items as possible. Books and journals that had fallen onto the floor were already soaked and staff had to walk on them to get to the salvageable items still on shelves. Meanwhile, the basement accumulated 1-2 feet of melting snow and rain when the drains backed up yet staff went down to remove as much of the media equipment as possible. Most of the artwork hanging on the walls in the library was saved. The process of recovering contents and condemning the portion of the collapsed building occurred within one week. Working with architects and letting the bid out (twice) for the rebuilding, and doing the rebuilding took three and a half years.

This collection includes a KOMO 4 Video News Broadcast by anchors Dan Lewis and Margo Meyers and reporter Keith Eldridge that covers the collapse. Donna Allen, Olympic College's then President, was interviewed.