Bangor -
A signature feature of the Bangor Public Library is now the source of a huge problem.
The building's 100-year-old copper roof is in such bad shape, officials say it needs to be replaced - at a cost of about $3 million.
The blue bandaid on the roof of the Bangor Public Library is barely noticeable from the street.
And barely any indication of the trouble inside.
Here a system of tarps, buckets and scaffolding are keeping the library's collection safe, for now.
Library Director Barbara McDade says, "We got to a point where the roofers that we hired said nothing can be done now. The copper has to be replaced and back deck has to be rebuilt and there's no way to use bandaids anymore."
McDade says replacing the iconic copper roof, which is a century old, as well as a roof over a 1950's section of the library, will require help - and money - from the city.
At this point, damage from the leaking has been limited to the building.
"However, a couple of weeks ago, unfortunately for us, some of the book that were under tarps already, water hit the buckets and actually splashed back up."
Those books were saved but McDade says it's just an example of how desperate the situation has become.
"We've moved things out of the way as much as we can. However if we don't fix the roof now, if we don't do it in this building season, we will have to close the third floor."
Library officials plan to talk with city leaders as soon as Tuesday night about money for the project.
They'll be asking about the possibility of a bond issue for voters to decide on in June.
A major fundraising campaign is also underway.
McDade hopes to start construction this summer - all in an effort to maintain a downtown mainstay.