University of Maryland: Mold in McKeldin Library’s Basement Could Cost up to $1 Million To Fix

From The Diamondback (U. of Maryland-College Park Students Newspaper):

“The bottom line is that there is a recurring mold problem in McKeldin,” said Eric Bartheld, McKeldin Library’s communication director. “Thankfully — now — the mold is dormant. But we expect it to bloom again when the weather is warmer and the air is wetter.”
Mold began to grow in the basement of McKeldin this past summer, where the library’s preservation and digital systems and stewardship divisions are housed, along with their employees. The basement is not open to the public, Baker said.
To prevent water from causing problems in McKeldin, Facilities Management will likely have to divert downspouts, which collect water from the roof and bring it through pipes within the walls of the library and into the building’s foundation drains, Baker said.

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Filed under: Libraries, Management and Leadership, News, Preservation