The east branch of the Pikes Peak Library District reopened this morning after being closed Thursday because of a flood caused by a busted water pipe.

The broken pipe flooded the basement of the building at 5550 N. Union Blvd. early Thursday afternoon, leaving more than 2 inches of standing water. It damaged computer servers and other electronic equipment, which disabled the library’s phone, computer catalog and Internet service until about 10 a.m. today.

At least 100 people were evacuated from the building, library spokeswoman Dee Vazquez said. All the library’s 12 branches were affected because they all rely on the computer catalog.

Vazquez said officials are still assessing the damage and don’t know whether the flood will lead to an insurance claim.

The library district is a government agency that gets most of its budget from a property tax. It serves all of El Paso County except Manitou Springs and the Security-Widefield area, which have their own libraries.

Kyle Gray Photo by