Ready for Carpet--
Because of where I live and where I work, I am off on Wednesdays. Thursday when I returned to work I learned that the day before my assistant, our VP of development, and "Shawn" -the point man overseeing all the renovation, and the insurance agent by phone had a meeting. Mostly it involved what the used books would cost to replace. We had thrown out 2315 books. To replace as new would cost an average of $28. The insurance agent was heard to take an audible gasp over the phone. (yes, that's alot of money.) But at used prices it would probably cost about $14 a book. Some were to be added yet to our collection, but the most were what were left over from the sale. So, we are still in the negotiating stage of what we are going to do with them.
The bound periodicals were covered in mold. The company here was going to send them to Texas to be treated. But in comparing the cost of treating the mold ($16,200) to what it would cost to replace them (about half), we have opted to take the cash and not get them treated. That will save that company time and expense and save the insurance company expense as well. I picked out a carpet sample yesturday that comes close to matching what we have. It will be installed next Thursda. The new wall paint also is similar to the rest of the library (light beige/magnolia). The lighting has been repaired with all new neon tubes and ballists (sp?) where needed. The room is looking SO much better. It is clean, bright and most of all dry, as proved by last night's storm that moved through the area again last night. What a BLESSING indeed.
This insurance company has really contradicted the reputation that most have. I have been very impressed with how quick they have responded to the needs of the campus as a whole. The boys' dorm roof is done, as well as 6 duplexes, the library storage room and the patio roof in front of the library. This will be close if not over $200,000 when all is said and done.
I have also been impressed with how quickly everything was put into action. I didn't have to go out looking for the recovery help that was needed. That is probably partly due to the library being part of a college and the college suffering damage on more than just the library. But the insurance agent and "Shawn" were here the next day after the strom hit and boom, people were here that afternoon beginning to help by putting on temporary roofs.
I will be gone now till next Thursday taking some extra days with celebrating Independence Day. Whatever you do over the weekend, be careful and safe.