Report shows mold conditions improving in central library | News | oudaily.com

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Norman Public Library Central on Feb. 26, 2019.

A recent report by Cavins Disaster Response Group revealed Norman Public Library Central mold conditions have improved in some areas but remain present in others.

The March 5 report confirmed all areas remain under condition one — meaning normal fungal ecology typically found in unproblematic spaces — and containment efforts in the stairwell, Makers Lab and Oklahoma Room are successfully preventing cross contamination of cleaned common areas.

Inspectors took 10 samples from inside the building and one control sample from the outside. Inspectors used flashlights, UV lights and olfactory senses and measured humidity and temperature across various parts of the facility to conduct a visual inspection. No signs of water intrusion, water damage or active microbial growth were detected inside the building, according to the report.

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Air quality testing was conducted using samples from the children’s area; common areas on the the first, second and third floors; Makers Lab; the stairwell; and the Oklahoma Room. No mold spore types were present in the Makers Lab or Oklahoma Room that were not found in the exterior control sample, an improvement for the Oklahoma Room which was an area of concern in the previous report.

According to the latest report, the city put remediation work on hold in the Makers Lab and Oklahoma Room, but containment efforts remain effective. Remediation efforts refer to the removal and cleaning of mold spores and addressing underlying issues that support mold growth.

Jason Olsen, director of Norman parks and recreation, wrote in an email to OU Daily Monday that Cavins Group typically recommends the city remediates mold with demolition, but since there are no people in the building and the rooms are empty and contained with vapor barriers, the city feels comfortable focusing its efforts on other areas.

“We feel comfortable enough that since there are no people in the building and these areas of the building are contained the work can wait until we get a resolution from the original Construction and Design teams on this project,” Olsen wrote.

The report revealed the stairwell spore counts were higher than expected and common indoor mold spores Alternaria, Basidiospores and Bipolaris/Drechslera were present. Hyphal fragments and cladosporium, a mold found indoors and outdoors, spore counts on the third floor common area were equal to the exterior sample, suggesting there may be openings in the building allowing outside air inside. Both areas remain under close observation.

In November 2023, the city hired Cavins Group to investigate water leak issues from Norman Public Library Central’s roof. Cavins Group discovered traces of mold, including black mold and fusarium, on each level of the facility.

Later that month, it was announced the library would close temporarily while Cavins Group assessed the facility. The Norman Public Library Central was closed indefinitely in April when mold damage was found to be "extensive and severe."

This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Andrew Paredes and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.

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Natalie is a sophomore journalism and criminal justice student from Frisco, TX. This semester, she’ll be covering education and Norman Public Schools. She works to amplify student voices and promote transparency within the district. She can be contacted at [email protected].