This message was forwarded to me via the SLA Architecture, Building
Engineering, Construction & Design listserv. I thought you might be
interested.
Elizabeth
______________________________
Elizabeth Meylor
Library and Records Manager
HGA, Inc.
Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design
701 Washington Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-758-4588
[log in to unmask]
www.hga.com
______________________________
________________________________
From: Virginia Sanchez [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 3:50 PM
To: Elizabeth Meylor
Subject: [sla-kabc] Some good news from New Orleans (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 13:54:02 -0500
From: Irene Wainwright <[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >
To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Some good news from New Orleans
New Orleans Public Library is delighted to be able to announce that the
New Orleans City Archives, which we hold, is relatively safe. Although
the majority of our records (as well as the 19th and early 20th century
records of the Orleans Parish civil and criminal courts) are housed in
the basement of the Main Library, some 18 feet below sea level, the
basement remained essentially dry. Wayne Everard , our archvivist, and
I were able to get access to the building yesterday, along with another
NOPL staff member and a representative of Munters. We discovered that
the basement sustained NO FLOODING, although there is a very small
amount of water in one area, possibly caused by sewer backup. This
water caused no direct damage to records themselves.
The Main Library itself (across the plaza from city hall, about 4 blocks
from the Dome) came through almost unscathed. Several windows blew out
in the area of our Technology Center causing quite a bit of damage
there, but the damage is confined to that closed in room. There is also
evidence of very minimal roof leakage on the first floor -- most of it
missing the books. On the whole, however, the Main Library is in
excellent shape. Earlier reports that vandals had entered the building
are incorrect. Our branch run van was looted and we believe another van
was stolen from the parking lot, but it is clear that no one got into
the building, either to vandalize or to shelter there.
The NOPL system itself has been hit hard -- probably about half of our
11 branch libraries are under water. But these we can (and will)
rebuild. The fact that the archives have survived leaves us almost
delerious with relief.
We are working now to arrange for Munters to stabilize the Main Library
building until we can all return and begin the rebuilding process.
We posted this news earlier to the ssacares site, where we will post
additional information as it becomes available as well as photographs we
took of the Library and the surrounding area.
Thank you all for your expressions of concern and offers of assistance.
We are unbelievably lucky, and I think I now believe in miracles....
Irene Wainwright
Assistant Archivist, Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans
Public Library
_________________________________________________________________
A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the
Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org
<http://www.archivists.org> .
Virginia Sanchez
Burlini/Silberschlag, LTD
Architects & Planners
520-323-1996
Tucson, Arizona
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy
enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright
<http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Herm_Albright/> , (1876 - 1944)
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