NINE MONTHS AFTER AN APPARENT ARSON FIRE SHUT DOWN ALBUQUERQUE'S NORTH VALLEY LIBRARY, IT'S SET TO REOPEN TUESDAY. DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES DEAN SMITH TELLS 770 KKOB THE FIRE DID A MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE…MOST OF IT FROM SMOKE.
SMITH SAYS EVERYTHING THE SMOKE TOUCHED … ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE BUILDING … HAD TO BE REPLACED OR CLEANED. AND THAT INCLUDED REPLACING ABOUT 80-PERCENT OF THE LIBRARY'S 55-THOUSAND BOOKS.
SMITH SAYS INSURANCE MONEY FROM ALBUQUERQUE AND BERNALILLO COUNTY PAID FOR THE RENOVATION WORK.