FEMA reverses, grants relocation money to Cedar Rapids library

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has relented and agreed to pay $329,127 for the temporary relocation of the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library received notice Wednesday that FEMA approved the second appeal for temporary relocation assistance following the flood of 2008, stating that the library does, in fact, provide essential community services.

The news was announced first by Sen. Tom Harkin's office.

Previous attempts to get reimbursement funding from FEMA for temporary relocation were denied based on federal law which does not list libraries among essential community services, such as police and fire departments.

“This is a major victory not just for the Cedar Rapids Public Library, but for any library that may be in a similar situation in the future,” said Bob Pasicznyuk, library director.

The money will cover 18 months of rent, utilities, and other expenses, but library officials aren't sure yet which 18 months it will apply to. The library has been without its central location in downtown Cedar Rapids since the flood.

Assistant Library Director Tam Glise, who was the interim director during the flood, led the charge to win the appeal. “We meet needs otherwise unmet in our community, as do libraries across the country. It's heartening to learn that FEMA recognizes that officially.”

The Library lost more than 160,000 items in the flood, including books and CDs, DVDs, reference materials, display racks, electronic equipment, microfilm, computers, and much more.

FEMA determined that the building itself suffered more than 50% damage and has already committed to paying 90 percent of the costs for a new library on a site other than the First Street SE location.

The library has received assistance from the City of Cedar Rapids, the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Library, the Library Foundation, and private donors to fund the temporary location at Westdale Mall and a small downtown satellite branch.