On Feb. 1, an email was sent to all Bakersfield College students. It was announcing the indefinite closure of the Grace Van Dyke Bird Library, without any reasoning provided.
The email stated, “The BC Library will be closed until further notice,” and additionally it prompted any students with a class located inside of the library to contact their faculty for their temporary relocation.
Several papers were taped onto the locked library doors, repeating the information found in the email. However, there was still no update given as to when the library would re-open its doors and why the library was closed in the first place.
Consequently, the Wylie and May Louise Jones Art Gallery reception, which was scheduled to happen later that day, was rescheduled to Feb. 8.
Library Chair Faith Bradham stated over email that, “the closure seems to be related to the rain,” and pointed out that “the library is still in the process of getting a new roof.” This was due to several leaks nearly damaging books earlier in the winter. She also noted that the rain from the night before had leaked into the library’s wiring, which had set off the emergency alarms.
“The fire alarms were blinking in every floor,” exclaimed Renegade Hub worker Naomi Bautista, who further added that eventually, “the alarm did go off and then back on.” Due to the closure, Naomi was unable to work the rest of the day and the day that followed.
In an email obtained by the Renegade Rip from BC’s Marketing and Communications Director Monika Roberts to Kern High School District (KHSD) faculty announcing the rescheduling of the art gallery’s reception, the library’s closure was said to have been a product of “the storm last night.” This email to KHSD employees came not even five hours after the original email stating the library’s closure to BC students, which claimed and failed to “send an update when we have more information.”
Students following the ‘bc_library’ account on Instagram were given an update on Feb. 2 about its re-opening occurring the following day. The library is now open to the BC community once again.