COOK- Cook’s library isn’t just a place to check out books – it’s long been described as the “heart of the city.” It’s where toddlers giggle during storytime, where seniors chat over puzzles, and where neighbors reconnect by the checkout desk. But for the past ten months, that heart has been barely beating. Gutted by last June’s historic flood and mired in FEMA delays, the building remains stripped to bare floors and boxed-up shelves.
This week, city and library leaders said they’ve waited long enough. A joint meeting of the city council and library board on Monday ended in clear consensus: it’s time to make temporary repairs and get the library functioning – with or without FEMA’s help.
Library in limbo
Library Director Crystal Whitney didn’t sugarcoat the current state of the building.
“The library has been like this basically for 10 months,” Whitney told the assembly. “Our hours have been limited; our services have been limited. Honestly, this is probably the best that it’s looked in the 10 months.”
The damage was extensive — drywall was removed several feet up the walls, flooring was ripped out, electrical outlets were left unusable. The library has no ADA-accessible restrooms, and public computer stations remain offline.
“There are about 3,300 books that are in boxes right now,” Whitney said. “We don’t have enough outlets to even plug computers in.”
Before the flood, the Cook Public Library was the most-used library per capita in the Arrowhead region, and a community fixture, its central location essential to downtown vitality.
FEMA frustration
While FEMA representatives began working with the city last fall and have received all required documentation, the agency has yet to determine how much funding will be approved for the library.
The delay has deeply frustrated both city and library leaders, especially given that FEMA’s approach would likely cover only the cost to restore the building to its pre-flood condition – an estimated $160,000. However, new floodplain rules would require the city to incorporate additional floodproofing measures if any major repairs are made, bumping the cost to roughly $1.6 million.
“They’re probably not going to give you one and a half [million],” Whitney said. “That money is based on that pre-flood condition, which is not that much.”
Library Board President Eric Tripp was more blunt.
“It just seems like we need to move away from FEMA,” Tripp said. “We could probably have this up and running in two, three months without FEMA.”
Mayor Dan Manick echoed the sentiment, saying FEMA’s rules would only prolong the process.
“FEMA may require you to have a general contractor and all this kind of stuff,” Manick said. “If we pay for it in a different way, then maybe we’re not held to their standard.”
From relocation to repair
Back in November, at FEMA’s urging, the city council voted to pursue the option of relocating the library out of the floodplain, what FEMA identified as the most sustainable long-term solution. There was even discussion of designing a new building that could house both library services and city offices.
Three options were formally submitted to FEMA by the city’s engineering firm, SEH:
Repair to pre-flood condition: $160,615, not code-compliant
Repair and floodproof: $1.59 million
Build a new library outside the floodplain: $1.88–$2.04 million, not including land, furnishings, or demolition
But months later, with FEMA still silent, momentum has shifted. Local leaders say the need for services now outweighs the uncertainties of building from scratch.
“We were so lucky to have this space,” Whitney said of the current downtown location. “I would really hate to see us wait longer, longer, longer while we demolish the building.” Another hurdle to building elsewhere in town is that there aren’t any suitable alternative spaces for the library during the two years it’s estimated it would take to build a new facility.
Repair now
The city and library board agreed to move forward with short-term repairs aimed at restoring full service as quickly as possible. These include fixing bathrooms, installing flooring, restoring internet access, and ensuring ADA compliance. Initial funding will come from a $50,000 allocation from the city’s liquor store profits.
“Top priority is get this usable,” Manick said.
City Administrator Theresa Martinson said the time for planning is over.
“We have to have a task force,” Martinson said. “We should be directed to make a bold statement of the situation our public library is in.”
The newly formed task force will include Martinson, Mayor Dan Manick, Library Director Crystal Whitney, and Library Board President Eric Tripp. The group will focus on contacting the IRRRB and identifying additional funding sources that could help cover the cost of bringing the library back to full operation.
Library Board Member Michelle Manick also volunteered to assist outside the task force by reaching out to local contractors to gather cost estimates for the initial repairs. Maintenance Supervisor Tim Lilya will also support the effort as his duties allow.
Martinson underscored the urgency of getting the library back in working order.
“They need the library, they need the computers,” she said. “It’s a gathering place. It’s a community within a community.”
Reclaiming the heart
The decision to move forward with repairs marks a turning point for a town that has, for months, lived without one of its most vital institutions.
“I would like to be able to continue to have a library before I die,” said longtime resident Liz Storm, 81.
For city leaders and residents alike, the message was clear: Cook’s heart still beats – and it’s time to help it heal.
Those wishing to support the effort can make a donation to the Friends of the Cook Public Library. Checks should be made payable to the organization and may be dropped off at the library or mailed to: Cook Public Library, 103 S River St, Cook, MN 55723.