Albertville public library reopens after fire, welcomes community back

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. - The Albertville Public Library has reopened at a new temporary location after a fire left the town without a library for months.

The library is now operating at 301 West Main Street, offering limited services until a permanent location is established.

Albertville Public Library Director Tonia Blevins expressed relief at the reopening. "The community, most people that use the library are very happy to have it back," Blevins said. "They've had to go to other libraries, but nothing is quite like your home library."

The fire destroyed the library's entire nonfiction collection and about 10% of its fiction books. Blevins shared the challenges faced in restoring the library, including reorganizing hundreds of books that had been put in an ozone room to remove smoke odor.