Insurance to pay for Hilton Head library damage from broken fire sprinkler

The cost of damage caused by a broken fire sprinkler to shelves, walls, carpet and thousands of books at the Hilton Head Island Branch of the Beaufort County Library last week will be covered by the county’s insurer.The dollar amount of the damage has not been determined yet since the insurance adjuster is still reviewing details with county risk manager Miriam Mitchell, county spokeswoman Joy Nelson said.The broken sprinkler flooded the Friends of the Library bookshop, just inside the library’s front entrance, Sept. 17. The nonprofit group, which helps support the library, had more than 3,500 books stored in the space. All of them were ruined.The Hilton Head Friends of the Library provides the library with materials, programming and even furniture, said its president, Lynne Miller.