The Wareham Free Library was forced to close on Monday, March 6, Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8 due to “unexpected flooding,” the Library announced in a Monday Facebook post. 

According to Library Director Patrick Marshall, a pipe burst in the Library at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 5, flooding the meeting room and the hallway around the circulation area.

The burst was caused by a water main break on Morris Avenue.

The Library confirmed on Facebook that the Municipal Maintenance Department is overseeing cleanup efforts and that no books were damaged.

Servpro and Municipal Maintenance have been “continuously on site” since the leak was first reported, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan told the Select Board during its meeting on Tuesday, March 7.

“We’re letting it dry out,” Marshall said in a phone interview on Tuesday, March 7. “Hopefully we’ll be open sooner rather than later.” 

The extent of the flooding is still unknown. Wareham Week has reached out to the Municipal Maintenance Department and the Town Administrator’s office for comment.

“We probably can’t put a public pool in the Library,” Marshall joked. “It doesn’t seem to work well.”

The Library is currently offering curbside pickup of items on hold from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Those utilizing the service should arrive at the Library with their card and call 508-295-2343 to let staff know they are outside.