DPNR announces closure of St. Croix’s only open library

The Florence Williams Library on St. Croix abruptly closed until further notice Thursday, only four months after reopening to great fanfare from Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and other officials.

The Christiansted library was closed for six years after the 2017 hurricanes, and finally reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony and public announcements. But on Thursday, the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources, which oversees the territory’s libraries, announced that Williams “will be closed until further notice due to emergency maintenance issues.”

DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol “apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and thanks the community for their understanding,” according to the short press release. DPNR spokesman Jamal Nielsen and Libraries, Archives and Museums Director Amy DeSorbo did not respond to questions from The Daily News on Thursday, and it’s unclear why the newly renovated building is already in need of emergency maintenance.