Durham, N.C. — The Durham County Main Library at 300 N. Roxboro St. shut down Tuesday after fire destroyed a small outdoor shed.
The assistant county fire marshal, Michael Webb, says the cause is still under investigation.

It happened just after noon.

The main building was not damaged, but the strong smell of smoke throughout the facility forced administrators to close the library for the day.

The shed housed hundreds of boxes of books and audio tapes for the non-profit group, Friends of the Durham Library.

"There's going to be a lot of books that won't be read on parents' laps or grandparents' laps," said library Director Skip Auld.
He said many of the books that were destroyed were children's books.

Jane Goodridge, treasurer of Friends of the Durham Library, said the books were being stored for the annual spring sale, which is scheduled for April.

That sale usually raises $25,000 for the library system.

"We'll work more days, if necessary for the next month, to take in more donations," Goodridge vowed. "The sale is still a ‘go.’"

The library plans to re-open Wednesday.