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Trouble at the Museum

The Louvre’s glass pyramid reflects in a pool beside historic buildings.
WHAT A SIGHT The Louvre, in Paris, France, is home to artworks such as the Mona Lisa. Millions visit each year. WALTER BIBIKOW—GETTY IMAGES

A leak caused damage at the Louvre museum, in Paris, France. This occurred on November 26. Officials say a heating system malfunctioned. Hundreds of books in the museum’s Egyptian antiquities library were affected.

Teams are carefully drying and repairing the books. Fortunately, the museum’s precious artifacts were not affected. No art was affected, either.

The leak came just two months after a robbery at the museum. More than $100 million worth of jewels were stolen. They have not been recovered.

Louvre staff members are now speaking out. They’re concerned about aging equipment. And they’re worried about working conditions. The museum is in “crisis,” the staff union wrote to France’s culture minister on December 8.