From Paula Brown Peeling, Assistant Library Director, Chula Vista Public Library, October 24, 2007:
As of Wednesday, October 24, the three libraries in the Chula Vista Public Library system were not physically damaged. Civic Center branch and South branch are open normal hours today- although thick and stifling yellow air hangs over the city. Rolling waves of bruised brown smoke still pour over our local mountain range. Very unsettling.
The EastLake branch library, located on the EastLake High School campus, remains closed while the campus and HVAC systems are being cleaned. We hope to open by the weekend.
Due to imminent fire threat on the eastern edges of Chula Vista, our EOC shut down the libraries at 5PM on Monday, and all day Tuesday.
Approximately, 1/4 of our staff was involved in a voluntary or mandatory evacuation of their homes earlier in the week. Most of them are now "out of the woods" with no fire damage but pungent smoke that has penetrated every inch of people's homes. We are aware of one employee who was evacuated last night from the rural community of Jamul. The Harris fire, even today, is still torturing the areas in the south end of San Diego's inland areas such as Jamul.
We are back-dating all circulating items so no one accrues fines during this crisis.
We are happy to give more detailed information if that is desired or needed.
From Jackie Griffin, Library Director, Ventura County Library, October 24, 2007:
We have reopened Piru and Fillmore which brings us back up to full strength.
I hope that San Diego comes through as well.