The Frank Churchill/Larry Morey tune about rain from the Disney classic Bambi might be cute when you’re cuddled up on the couch watching the video, but to the staff of C.H. Booth Library, the “drip, drip, drop” of water from leaks in the ceiling does not sound like music to the ears.

Makeshift patches are held in place by duct tape; ugly, rust-colored stains spot the ceilings on every floor, where the aging roof and incapacitated gutters have allowed water to seep into the building. An aggressive approach to repairs should soon put the drips and drops into history books, though.

Eagle River Roof Service, Corp of West Hartford, erected scaffolding across the front of the building several weeks ago, said library director Janet Woycik, and began the extensive repairs that include replacing cracked roof slates, fixing the snow barrier on the roof, replacing flashing around chimneys and gutter and repositioning the gutters on the new addition. Heating elements, to assist the melting of damaging ice and snow, will be installed in the small, flat roof over the entryway to the children’s department.

“This is the reason we have a capital reserve fund,” explained Ms Woycik. The $96,000 to complete repairs has been allocated from that fund. 

The roof restoration project is being overseen by Caldwell-Walsh Building Construction, Inc of Sandy Hook. Due to inclement weather, the project has been temporarily placed on hold.