A recent act of vandalism at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library resulted in minor damage to the building and has staff members concerned.

Library Director Kelly Easterling said staff returned to the library Jan. 20 after a holiday weekend to find a shattered window at the library caused by a bullet hole.

“We found the bullet in the large room with adult fiction and non-fiction books,” Easterling said. “Thankfully no one was here when this happened or someone could have been hurt.”

The bullet went through the window, scraped the ceiling, busted a light fixture and damaged a book titled, “See You Later Alligator” by William F. Buckley Jr., according to Easterling.

Easterling said the area where the incident occurred would not have allowed someone to get inside the library.

“Whoever did this would not have been able to climb inside so it looks like it was just done to either be a prank or cause damage to the building,” Easterling said. “It is frustrating because it required work to be done to the area.”

Easterling filed a police report with the Clanton Police Department and had repairs made to the window which cost about $150.

The Chilton-Clanton Public Library building is a county-owned building.

“Since I have been director for almost four years, this is the first incident of vandalism we have had,” Easterling said. “The staff was grateful that we were closed at the time and no one got hurt, but the whole thing has just been frustrating.”