City officials and owner and CEO of Cavins Group delivered an update during a press conference on Tuesday regarding the Norman Public Library Central’s five-month closure after mold was detected in the building.
Earlier this month, contractors examined water intrusion issues and found indications of mold in the library at 103 W. Acres St. During the investigation, an area of concern regarding mold was found on each level of the library.
The mold investigations and testing by Cavins Group consisted of a visual inspection, testing of air quality in common areas and testing any areas of concern that were discovered during the visual inspection. Cavins Group’s testing methods include spore trap samples, tape lifts and bulk samples.
The types of mold identified are stachybotrys, commonly referred to as black mold, and fusarium.
According to the city, the mold growth is attributed to water intrusion stemming from the roof. As remediation continues, contractors will determine the extent of the damage and its cause.
During the press conference, Jason Olsen, city of Norman parks and recreation director, said the library was built by Flintco Construction. He added the library has experienced water intrusion issues since it opened in 2019.
In 2020, the lower roof was replaced along with sealing windows and other various repairs. Olsen said Flintco Construction was made aware of leak problems each time they occurred.
“From the very beginning, we did have some water problems, nonstop chasing leaks,” Olsen said.
He added that the city is working with its partners to determine if the mold issue is due to initial construction problems.
City staff are working with their partners to determine the cost of the repairs and who’s paying for them, Olsen said.
Lisa Wells, Pioneer Library Systems executive director, said the library has 64 employees to date. She said all of the employees were temporarily assigned to other locations.
Olsen said the city was not made aware of any health concerns of staff or patrons. However, Wells stated the city has been made aware of concerns regarding potential contamination of library materials checked out by patrons. She said humidity levels are low in the facility’s common areas, so there aren’t any specific concerns about materials in patrons’ homes.
Wells said about 1,200 items in staff areas of the library were highly contaminated and will be removed from the facility. They account for 0.6% of the library’s materials.
Gary Cavins, owner and CEO of Cavins Group, said all of the furniture in the library can be cleaned and saved.
Olsen and Wells said the city is looking for a temporary location to provide services for people who frequently utilize the library’s resources. Olsen added that city officials are discussing plans to address people experiencing homelessness who use the library as a warming shelter.
Additionally, Wells stated the library serves about 10,000 people a month. Since its closure, foot traffic has increased in the city's east and west locations.
Wells said the library is hopeful the closure is short enough so that materials will not have to be removed from the facility.
As Cavins Group continues servicing the building, the city has begun the process of hiring a building envelope consultant. Fencing outside of the facility will occur to prepare for removal.
Updates from the city regarding the Norman Public Library Central’s mold situation can be found here.
This article was edited by Taylor Jones and Peggy Dodd. Lily Grace Battles and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
