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West Biloxi Library closed for repairs; council told $368,000 estimated to fully reopen
Summary
City officials said the West Biloxi Library has been closed for weeks with multiple building failures; staff provided line-item repair estimates totaling about $368,000 and warned the budget lacks sufficient current appropriations, prompting a possible budget amendment request.
City staff told Biloxi City Council on May 1, 2026, that the West Biloxi Library is closed while the city gathers estimates to repair extensive roof, electrical and plumbing damage. Engineering and library officials said the building has had long-term deterioration and recent failures that require significant work to reopen safely.
Library-system director Sarah Chrysler Raski, who addressed the council during citizen comments, said the roof and plumbing problems have been chronic for years and urged immediate planning to move collections and equipment if the building remains closed. She warned that moving tens of thousands of books is costly and time-consuming and asked to coordinate a temporary relocation to protect collections and computers.
Public-works staff described preliminary estimates: the lowest roof replacement quote obtained so far is $307,000; electrical repairs roughly $10,000; plumbing repairs about $12,000; ceiling tile replacement if done in-house roughly $40,000. Staff summed these components and related repairs to an estimated $368,000 to restore full operations. Current line items include $59,000 in the general HVAC line for all city buildings and about $935 remaining in the annual library-maintenance budget, leaving a substantial shortfall.
Staff told the council they would pursue second quotes for some items and may bring a budget-amendment request if the council directs the work. Council members probed options for temporary service (for example, relocating services to other city facilities) and for volunteer or nonprofit assistance to accelerate repairs. Knights of Peter Claver (KOPC) trades volunteers were identified as a possible labor source for limited work.
Library director Raski said moving the library collection would take days to weeks, and staff urged early planning and coordination to avoid long-term damage to books and equipment. The council did not vote on a repair appropriation at the meeting; members asked staff to return with cost breakdowns, additional quotes and potential funding sources.
Provenance: library status and preliminary cost estimates were discussed with staff reports and citizen comments (transcript blocks SEG 349'SEG 1395).
