By Alexei C. Summers (Contributor) – Email
Date Posted: October 18, 2011
Print Edition: October 12, 2011
An increase in rainfall accompanying the onset of autumn has brought more than just a downpour of complaints – it’s also brought a steady drip of water through the leaky roof of the Abbotsford UFV Library. While numerous measures have been taken to protect the books, Collections librarian Patti Wilson noted that the problem has been recurrent for years.
A tour of the library revealed an assortment of makeshift solutions to the problem of leaks: large five gallon water jugs—the kind used in office water coolers—with tubes attached to them (that seemingly vanish into the ceiling) rested in place on top of the rows of books, and tarps and plastic sheets were draped over surfaces in various locations to prevent damage.
“It’s been happening for a very long time now,” explained Wilson, who has been at UFV since 1993. She toured the library, pointing out the many spots where tarps have been lain over aisles of books, and commented that to her knowledge no books have been damaged by the rainwater.
The building itself, however, appeared to have suffered slightly from the leaks. The roofing was in places quite severely stained with water, and the staff room upstairs had sustained previous damage to the carpet, which has ultimately been removed and replaced with linoleum flooring. By the window in the staff room a fungus-like substance had begun to sprout from the dampness – a disconcerting sight for library staff during their lunch breaks.
In the main foyer, where students must walk in to enter the library, there were tarps hanging up on the high ceiling, to prevent water from falling onto the heads of unsuspecting students and staff alike.
Building G was built in 1983 and was the first permanent building of the University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford Campus to be erected – Wilson could not say for sure when the leaks first originated.
There are many questions that are left unresolved for the moment, such as: when the leaks first originated, and if the builders could be contacted to do something about the multiple leaks. It is unknown what the exact cause of the leaks is, or when they will be fixed, or even if they can be, but hopefully steps and measures are being taken by the school to fix the problem once and for all.
