Bids to fix library mold problem expected

[Guest guest]

Bids to fix library mold problem expected

By PEARCE ADAMS Independent-Mail

May 15, 2006

HART COUNTY

Independent Mail (subscription) - ,SC

http://www.independentmail.com/and/news/article/0,1886,AND_8203_47007

77,00.html

HARTWELL — A library customer said she's growing impatient about

progress that is overdue at the Hart County Library.

" There's not as much space, and it's not as quiet, " said Marie

Fortson on Friday as she tried to access the Internet from a

computer in a temporary doublewide mobile home.

Library and county officials said they are in the process of

soliciting bids to repair the infrastructure of the 15,000-square-

foot brick library, including replacement of heat and air systems

and the building's roof. Both are blamed for mold that closed the

building in November.

A $450,000 grant and a $50,000 local match would be used to fund the

repairs, said Jon Caime, county administrator.

, director of library grants, research and planning for

the Georgia Public Library Service, said county officials made the

call to close the building.

It's one of only two among the state's 374 public libraries to have

closed due to mold, she said. The other library was only closed for

a few months and should reopen soon, Ms. said. The Hart

library has more extensive problems, involving structural issues,

she said.

But " it's a resolvable problem, " Ms. said.

However, there would be no additional grant money for library

repairs. Its needs are yet to be determined, she said.

Bids could be presented to the County Commissioners in about eight

weeks, Mr. Caime said.

In August, officials were alerted to a mold problem at the 1970s-era

building. The mold is believed to originate in the building's

cooling system. It's not believed to be toxic, according to Ms.

and , the library director in Hart County.

" The only negative is an allergic reaction from long-term exposure, "

he said.

So far, it's believed to have affected only one person. A library

employee suffered a " serious allergic " reaction and worked from home

until taking another position, Mr. said.

The temporary building, which contains about 2,000 of the library's

36,000-volume collection and is open 6 days a week, is located in a

parking area behind the main building.

Mr. said the move to it was made in November. The entire

collection remains available; staff must clean mold from requested

items before removing them from the main building, he said.

In April 2005, a total of 2,893 items were checked out by the

library's 6,733 cardholders, Mr. said. Twelve months later,

the usage dropped to 912 items, he said.

Pearce can be reached

at (800) 859-6397, Ext. 324 or at

adamspt@...