Island Park Public Library Reopens Nearly 10 Months After Sandy
ISLAND PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A Long Island community devastated by superstorm Sandy got its library back Thursday.
As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported, every one of Island Park's estimated 40 businesses was shut down by Sandy, including the town's public library.
Nearly ten months after it was devastated by the storm, the library has officially reopened.
Island Park Public Library Reopens Nearly 10 Months After Sandy
"The library symbolically represents knowledge. You can call it the brain of the town," resident William Wallace told Xirinachs. "It means a great deal. To have it back is fantastic."
Sandy submerged the library in five feet of water, destroying more than 20,000 books.
Wallace said having the library back is uplifting and inspirational.
"It's a very large sign that we are back," Wallace said.
The library is currently about 70 percent functional and should be fully operational in about a month.
About two-thirds of Island Park's businesses have reopened, according to town officials.
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