Two burst water pipes over the holiday weekend washed ceiling tiles from the lower level and caused significant water damage at Centennial Library on the UNM main campus. Level 1 of the library will reopen in the next several days, but level 2 may remain closed for up to three months. In the meantime reference services can be provided by telephone at 277-4412 or by email at cselref@unm.edu
There was little damage to books and periodicals, but the closing of level 2 means there will be no access to any books in the sciences and engineering except through inter-library loan and document delivery. Library officials say the main problem is lack of shelf space to move 200,000 books to another area.
Periodicals will be available on level 1 and some maps from the Map and Geographic Information Center will be available. Members of the Association of Research Libraries and Greater Western Library Alliance have promised priority status for UNM researchers and students seeking materials.
Although the problem occurred while the university was closed for the holiday, an alert postdoctoral student researcher heard water falling in the library on the afternoon of Dec. 24 and called library director Johann van Reenen, who arrived to find ceiling tiles falling in level two and water on the floor of the circulation area. Plumbers quickly shut off the water, but the damage had been done.
Carpets and furnishing on level 2 have been damaged and will have to be repaired or replaced. Workers from the physical plant and outside contractors worked through the holidays to extract the water from the building and set up dehumidifiers.
Employees in the New Media and Extended Learning sections of Extended University who had been housed on level 2 of Centennial have been temporarily relocated in Woodward Hall until the damage is repaired. They are headquartered in Room 115. There will be no impact on classes or on Web CT. Director of New Media and Extended Learning, Debby Knotts can be reached at 277-9000 or at Debby@unm.edu
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627