It is no secret that the ceilings of the Miller Library contain asbestos, but it has only been within the past year that motions have been made to take care of the problem. The air of the library has been tested on numerous occasions and it contained no airborne particles.
However, the asbestos has recently become a major concern due to the fact that students have been writing on the ceilings.
"Some students have stood up on the carrels upstairs and written on the ceiling," stated William Tubbs. "The result is it falls down onto their face. Also, another concern is that some gets into the air."
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to asbestos has no immediate symptoms but can cause some long term problems such as lung cancer, and asbestosis, which can be fatal.
"What's going to happen," stated Tubbs, "is over the summer the top floor will be closed off for somewhere between two and four weeks, and the college has hired a professional company to remove the material from the ceilings."
"I'm happy with the administration's speedy response to the asbestos problem," commented freshman Kristen Capobianco.
Asbestos is not the only health concern the Library has been dealing with. Mildew has been discovered on many of the binds of the fabric covered books on the third floor.
"Mildew has occurred several times during the past ten years and is largely a problem of humidity and temperature," commented Reid Raudenbush "The mildew has been cleaned with chemical solutions."
Even though the books are cleaned whenever the mildew is discovered, it is an ongoing battle due to poor air ventilation.
"The best way to prevent mildew is to have perfect humidity and temperature control, and, as important, for the set point not to vary by more than a degree or two in a twenty four hour day," stated Raudenbush.
"While [asbestos in the library] is enough to startle students, consider those who work in the library and how they were inevitably exposed to greater amounts of whatever students were exposed to," said freshman John Killeen.
He added, "I hesitate to bring up the possibility that these years of asbestos ceilings won't be over and done with after this summer."
The mildew has been causing some minor discomfort among library-goers including itching and sneezing.
"If I thought I was in any real danger," commented Tubbs, "I wouldn't be working here nine, ten hours a day.
"I certainly hope to see the library closed for the summer," said Killeen, "while this problem is addressed safely."
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782