Great.
No real post today, folks. The library flooded last night due to a backed-up water osmosis machine. Yeah, i don't really know why we have one of those either. Anyhoo, Special Collections and part of the 000s section (psychology and philosophy) and bound journals took the brunt of it.
I gotta go take care of some soggy books now. Updates later. Hope your day is better than mine.
6 comments:
Fuck dude!
At least you get some front line experience right?
Does SW contract out their disaster recovery, or is it all on you?
They contract out, but we had to change the location code of every single soggy drippy gooey wet book that was affected. Touching an ancient wet book is like putting your hand in a newborn's diaper -- not a good idea and certainly not a pleasant sensation.
Thankfully, Baby G argreed to come over and help with the rescue. (She's now an honorary librarian!) It's been 8 hours of nonstop barcode scanning and box packing but we did it. Now the company is putting the boxes on the truck to go to the big freezer.
Whew. I never want to deal with flooded materials again.
No fun! We have a constant seep in our basement, aka our reference center, and every time we think that we have patched the place where water enters the basement, the water finds a new place to come in and ruin different books...so I know what it is like to not want to ever touch an icky wet book again. Although I will take that anyday over books covered in cat urine (yes...it happens on a regular basis).
Here's to Baby G for helping out her robot!
i like libraries, and i was happy to help save some books for some kids. what do honorary librarians get to do? it that like getting an honorary degree of some sort?
here's my real question though, why does water damage always seem to happen in places where it is least convenient? not like there's ever a convenient place for water damage to happen, otherwise it wouldn't be defined as "damage," but this is seriously like the 20th time i've heard of a library flooding. and, kids, i'm not that old.
BG, it's most likely because libraries are sited as a rule where it's "least convenient"... well, and because when someone's house floods, it's (only) a mess, and when a library floods, it's somewhat more spectacular news. This profession gets its kicks where it can.
In any case, congrats on your battlefield promotion. You and TR earned every ounce of good karma yesterday. On behalf of bibliophiles everywhere, much obliged.
I sympathize with your flooding and subsequent icky wet book touching...but water osmosis machine?? It's like a rich person complaining that their silver isn't platinum. Sorry, I'm just thinking about all these people standing around in tuxedos and tiaras/monocles exclaiming "Jeeves!! The osmosis machine no longer works!! Hop in the Bentley and get me a new one."
Did I mention I was in orientation ALL DAY LONG! Cuz I was. And that apparently makes me callous and bitter.
LOVE YOU!
~The Booklahver
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