Kudzu-Ops Mailing List: FW: LSU Libraries' response to flood

[John Burger (jburger]

FYI.  Sharing news from our colleagues at LSU regarding the recent flooding in the area.

 

 

--jeb

 

 

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From: Sigrid E Kelsey [mailto:skelsey [at] lsu.edu]
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 12:04 PM
To: LSU Libraries
Subject: LSU Libraries' response to flood

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Effects of Louisiana Flooding on the LSU Libraries

 

Contact:

Sigrid Kelsey

Director of Communications & Publications

LSU Libraries, www.lib.lsu.edu

(225) 578-2720

skelsey [at] lsu.edu

 

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – LSU Libraries sustained minimal damage to its collections following heavy rains and flooding that devastated Baton Rouge and surrounding areas beginning on August 13, 2016. The Libraries closed on Friday, August 12 and reopened on Monday, August 22, 2016.

 

However, Middleton Library, the main library, experienced water seepage in its basement, which was already known to take in water during heavy rain. A small amount of water also leaked onto the fourth floor from the roof. The basement suffered extensive water intrusions at multiple points. Libraries staff covered collections and cleaned up water, and a remediation service provided dehumidifiers and fans. Six boxes of wet books were quickly moved to an onsite freezer for preservation and future restoration.

 

Hill Memorial Library, which contains the Special Collections, took in a small amount of rain water through its roof.  Library staff was able to act quickly to move and cover library material near the leaks. A small number of books were minimally affected by water, with no permanent damage and only air drying required.

 

Besides freezing six boxes of books from the main library, LSU Libraries’ freezer is preserving about 13 boxes of flooded material from St. Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana.

 

Five LSU Libraries employees’ homes were flooded. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has established a fund to help LSU employees who are affected by disasters and hardships such as the recent flood. See http://www.lsu.edu/floodrelief for ways to help.

 

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About LSU Libraries

LSU Libraries advances teaching and learning, promotes discovery, and empowers research that is essential for creative thinking, achieving the university’s mission, community engagement, and global leadership.  The LSU Libraries includes Middleton Library and the adjacent Hill Memorial Library. Together, the libraries contain more than 4 million volumes and provide additional resources such as expert staff, technology, services, electronic resources, and facilities that advance research, teaching, and learning across every discipline.

 

 

Sigrid Kelsey
Director of Communications and Publications
LSU Libraries
Louisiana State University
285 Middleton Library, Baton Rouge, LA  70803
office 225-578-2720
skelsey [at] lsu.edu | lsu.edu | lib.lsu.edu