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National library building flooded Artefacts escape library flooding
(about 3 hours later)
Scotland's largest library has been flooded after the sprinkler system was broken during renovation work. Scotland's most treasured literary artefacts have escaped largely unscathed after the country's largest library was flooded.
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue was alerted to flooding at the National Library of Scotland (NLS) at about 2328 BST on Monday. The National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh was covered with water after the sprinkler system was broken during renovation work.
A spokeswoman said water had affected five floors of the building in Edinburgh city centre. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said the accident happened at about 2328 BST on Monday.
She said that a full assessment was being carried out but there appeared to be no major damage to the collections. A spokeswoman said there was no major damage to the collections.
The water had affected five floors of the building in Edinburgh city centre.
The library had been closed for refurbishment when the accident happened.The library had been closed for refurbishment when the accident happened.
It is understood that workmen accidently burst a sprinkler pipe, releasing water over several floors of the building.It is understood that workmen accidently burst a sprinkler pipe, releasing water over several floors of the building.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND Holds copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the original manuscript of Darwin's Origin of Species, and the First Folio of ShakespeareJohn Murray Archive holds manuscripts by Darwin, Byron and Sir Walter ScottFormally constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1925Funded by the Scottish Parliament since 1999One of only six legal deposit libraries in the United Kingdom and IrelandNATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND Holds copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the original manuscript of Darwin's Origin of Species, and the First Folio of ShakespeareJohn Murray Archive holds manuscripts by Darwin, Byron and Sir Walter ScottFormally constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1925Funded by the Scottish Parliament since 1999One of only six legal deposit libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland
The NLS holds 13 million books, including the Gutenberg Bible, and major collections. The NLS holds 13 million books, including the Gutenberg Bible dating back to 1455, and major collections.
A total of 11 firefighters with two fire appliances and a support unit attended the incident until 0200 BST on Tuesday.A total of 11 firefighters with two fire appliances and a support unit attended the incident until 0200 BST on Tuesday.
The National Library of Scotland, located on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter, is also the legal deposit library of Scotland. Fire crews and library staff worked through the night to salvage the historic collection housed in the building on the city's George IV Bridge.
Library staff worked overnight to remove affected material to a site where it could be assessed and dried out. A spokeswoman said there was some superficial surface damage to a "very small percentage" of items.
A spokeswoman said staff had taken crates full of books to other buildings. All the material affected is now undergoing conservation treatment.
She said: "There was no major damage. The conservators and curators are assessing the material. National librarian Martyn Wade said: "We are fully assessing the impact of the incident but it appears that there is no long term or serious damage."
"Some of the material can be air dried and some can be frozen to alleviate moisture. We have an emergency plan in place for such incidents and it worked well." 'Heavy flooding'
Contractors have been carrying out a major refurbishment in the building and many of the books were already packed away during the flooding. The library recently acquired the world-renowned John Murray Archive, which contains the writings of Jane Austen, Charles Darwin and David Livingstone among others.
Other treasures held at the library include the last letter of Mary Queen of Scots, written six hours before her execution.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "We arrived to heavy flooding.
"We isolated the sprinkler system before assisting staff who were wrapping up books."
Under the 1710 Copyright Act it was given the legal right to claim a copy of every book published in Britain.
It remains one of only six legal deposit libraries in the UK and Ireland, and collects around 6,000 new items each week.