Grant will allow library to repair damages from mold

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Grant will allow library to repair damages from mold

Hart County,Ga.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/122305/news_20051223015.shtml

By Todd DeFeo | todd.defeo@... | Story updated

at 11:29 PM on Thursday, December 22, 2005

The Hart County Library will receive up to $450,000 in state grant

money for " catastrophic repairs " resulting from mold and structural

damage at its building in Hartwell.

Hart County is receiving the money as part of a Major Repair and

Renovation grant from the Georgia Public Library Service. The grant

is part of more than $612,000 the organization allocated for repairs

and renovations at six public libraries across the state.

The non-toxic mold infestation at the Hart County Library was first

noticed in July in the roughly 30-year-old library. In November, the

mold chased patrons and employees to a temporary trailer set up in

the library's parking lot, which is expected to serve as the

library's home for as long as the next year.

" We're very happy, " Library Director said of the

grant money, adding it is " hugely important. "

The funds will reimburse the county for the cost of repairs and will

pay the actual remediation and repair costs, not a lump sum.

" Local money is sort of scarce, " said. " That's a problem for

every library in the world right now, I'm sure. "

Removing mold from the library likely will include complete removal

and replacement of the building's heating and cooling system and

repairs to the roof and building foundation. A leaky roof likely

contributed to the mold's spread, according to library officials.

" We've got an older building that could use some fixing up, "

said. " Truthfully, we had talked about some renovation ideas just

before this problem manifested itself. "

Though mold plays an important role in decomposing organic material,

such as leaves, it can cause skin or eye irritation or wheezing for

some people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.

MRR grants pay up to 90 percent of approved costs associated with

major repairs and renovations of existing library facilities that

are closed due to catastrophic events, according to the Georgia

Public Library Service. The Hart County Commission will provide the

remaining 10 percent of the funding to remove the mold from the

library, the library service said.

In the first and second phases of the grant program, the Georgia

Public Library Service allocated a total of $1.2 million to fund

repair projects at 17 public libraries in Georgia. If the Hart

County Library doesn't use all of the money it is allocated, it can

be used by another library in the state.

" If the grant money can be redirected after we get our share, that

would be great, " said.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 122305