Mold forces closure of Bonita's public library

[Guest guest]

http://www.naplesnews.com/today/bonita/d394833a.htm

Mold forces closure of Bonita's public library

Tuesday, September 29, 1998

By KARIE PARTINGTON, Staff Writer

Problems with mold and humidity are forcing the replacement of the air

conditioning system at the Bonita Springs Public Library, a project that

will close the library for up to three months while the work is being done.

Concerns about the effect mold and humidity are having on books prompted the

decision to replace the system. Last winter, the library several hundred

books had to be cleaned after they became infested with mold.

" Books can be pretty touchy, " said Jim Lavender, director of planning and

construction for Lee County. " They are pretty susceptible to damage when

there is too much humidity in the air. Air conditioning systems in libraries

have to work properly. "

The new system is being designed by Pelican Engineering. Until that work is

finished, it's too early to say when the closure will take place or how much

the new system will cost, he said.

" Basically, some of this work is going to be pretty extensive, " he said. " We

are going to be doing some air handler work and some duct work as part of

the project. It's not as simple as climbing on the roof and switching out

the unit. "

Of particular concern, he added, is the viability of the 1,200 genealogy

books on the library's shelves.

Mold and mildew in buildings can sometimes cause health problems, but

Lavender said the library's staff and patrons have not complained of

respiratory problems.

" I think the concern here is the books, " he said. " It hasn't been a problem

with people. "

Much of the problem is that the air conditioning system was not entirely

replaced when the library was expanded in 1991, Lavender said. Some portions

of the building have air conditioning systems that are about 15 years old,

he said. The 1991 renovation increased the size of the Bonita Springs

Library from 5,000 square feet to 11,800 square feet.

Ideally, the humidity level in a library should never rise above 50 percent,

Lavender said. The level at the Bonita Springs library hovers around 60 to

62 percent during the summer rainy season, he said.

While the work is being done, local library patrons will have to drive

nearly 9 miles north to the South County Regional Library in Estero to check

out books. It's a trip many library patrons seem to be making already. Since

the South Regional Library opened in August of 1996, the number of visitors

and the circulation at the Bonita Library have dipped.

During fiscal 1995-96, 143,000 visitors checked 302,000 books out of the

Bonita Library. In fiscal 1996-97, the Bonita Springs library saw 119,000

visitors check out 196,000 books, according to statistics compiled by the

library.

and Pam Pass of Bonita Springs are regular users of the local library.

Pass said it's going to be inconvenient while the new system is being

installed, but it will be worth it to have improved air quality in the

building.

" Not only is mold and humidity bad for the books, it's bad for your health, "

Pass said. " It's not ideal to have it closed down, but we need the new

system. "

Al Roseman, a member of the Bonita Springs Friends of the Library, said he

was familiar with the humidity problems at the facility. He said the work is

needed, but questioned its timing.

" I don't know why this couldn't be done in the summer when the library isn't

so busy, " he said.