The Mountain View Library is part of the Anchorage Public Library system. (Photo from the Mountain View Library’s Facebook page)
The Mountain View Library suffered serious damage after a vehicle crashed into the building early Saturday morning, according to an Anchorage library system official.
The Anchorage Public Library said Saturday that its Mountain View branch would be closed “until further notice for unexpected maintenance.”
Library spokesperson Misty Rose Nesvick said the building was extensively damaged overnight when a vehicle crashed into the building.
The vehicle took out at least part of a wall, though she said the scale of the damage is unknown. Repair crews have yet to assess the damage and determine what level of work is needed before reopening the library, Nesvick said.
Nobody was inside the building at the time, she said.
Nesvick deferred to Anchorage police and fire officials for additional information about the incident and whether anyone was injured or cited.
Firefighters were called to Mountain View Drive and Bragaw Street, where the library sits, at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday for a traffic collision, according to PulsePoint, which tracks Anchorage Fire Department responses.
The Mountain View Library described it as “an incident of truck vs library” in a Facebook post. Photo and video posted by social media users appeared to show a semi truck that had crashed at the library.
Further details about the circumstances of the crash weren’t immediately available from public agencies.
Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Gina Romero confirmed the crash and said she was working to gather more details Saturday afternoon. An Anchorage Fire Department spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to questions about the crash Saturday afternoon.
The system’s remaining branches will remain open as they normally would, the library said.
The exterior of the library has been sealed off to obscure the damage, Nesvick said. Security will be on site to ensure that the library remains secure while closed, she said.
Nesvick said the library would post updates about reopening, and whether there is anything community members can do to assist, on the system’s social media accounts and its website.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
