Journalism Library opens again after mold outbreak
More than 100 books needed to be rebound.
Published Sept. 12, 2006
The MU Journalism Library re-opened after a clogged water line caused mold growth on some of the books.
The library was closed for more than two weeks after a clogged strainer in a chilled water line forced the rebinding of 100-150 books.
MU spokesman Christian Basi said the broken air conditioning, coupled with high humidity outside, contributed to the damage.
Because the Journalism Library moved to the basement of Neff Annex from Walter Williams Hall in May 2005, almost half of the 40,000-book collection was in storage and not affected.
So far, it has cost roughly $5,300 to fix the damaged pipe and check the books for mold. This figure does not include the cost of rebinding the damaged books, Basi said, but the new bindings will cost approximately $7 per book.
On top of that, 15 books are too damaged to be repaired and must be destroyed.
"We will try to replace those volumes as quickly as possible," Basi said.
Library staff members have spent the past few weeks going through every book to assess the damage.
Every book was cleaned and disinfected with either alcohol or Lysol, Basi said.
They were also cleaned with a vacuum used to remove microscopic particles.
The journalism library will move back to Walter Williams Hall next year.