Warsaw Library Dealing With Limited Use Elevator Issues
May 9, 2017 at 6:48 p.m.
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Monday, Library Director Ann Zydek told the Board of Trustees the big thing in Facility Supervisor Bruce Hively’s monthly report was the LULA elevator. Hively was not at the board meeting.
“Two companies have discovered that they can not fit another LULA into the existing shaft with some changes. The accordion doors are the problem, so therefore a sliding door would be required and that would require a larger shaft to allow the door to slide onto the side,” she said.
As of Monday, the elevator was not working and the library was waiting for it to be fixed. Zydek said they hope it’s just an internal module that has died “because it seems like everything seems to be dying on it in bits and pieces.”
As the problems have arisen, she said they’ve spent “a thousand here, a thousand there” to address them.
“So I am sharing with you today, if that LULA stops working, the only solution would be going through with less than we currently have, which would be something like we had in the old Carnegie (library) on the outside where it is not enclosed except for where the shaft would be ... or you go and we come up with a new arrangement, working with an architect, and you try to actually get an elevator somewhere,” Zydek explained.
She said Hively told her that if they’re going to plan to get an elevator to save $250,000 for it. If the library goes to a full-fledged elevator, Hively is not sure the connections could fit through the piping and the space occupied by the LULA would need to be expanded for a full elevator. The space required also might take up some of the staircase space and the circulation desk might need moved.
“That’s a big project. We’re going to try very hard not to touch the Rainy Day funds as we’re looking forward. We’re going to be looking at the 2018 budget to start the process of having some funds to have available for whenever something like that may occur. If we get a couple of years, it’s going to be awesome, as we try to work with that,” Zydek said.
Later in the meeting, Board Vice President Jill Beehler asked, “Is there anyway we can do it without the elevator and remodel it in a different way?”
Zydek said people who use wheelchairs with the current ramp in the library find it hard to maneuver. Assistant Director Joni Brookins said it has a really sharp turn.
“So, yes, it would have to be a different kind of solution somewhere else,” Zydek said.
She said that could be determined by what they find underground on the library property, how much space there is and sidewalk considerations.
In the future, she said one possibility was that the library could be expanded out into the parking lot. It could include the circulation desk at the ground level along with some meeting room space. An elevator also could be set up in that expanded area.
Paczkowski asked if the elevator was regulated by the state or federal government or both. Zydek said both.
At this point, the library is just trying to determine a direction and start saving up for whatever decision is made. Zydek said the LULA elevator has lasted about 20 years, longer than anticipated.
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Monday, Library Director Ann Zydek told the Board of Trustees the big thing in Facility Supervisor Bruce Hively’s monthly report was the LULA elevator. Hively was not at the board meeting.
“Two companies have discovered that they can not fit another LULA into the existing shaft with some changes. The accordion doors are the problem, so therefore a sliding door would be required and that would require a larger shaft to allow the door to slide onto the side,” she said.
As of Monday, the elevator was not working and the library was waiting for it to be fixed. Zydek said they hope it’s just an internal module that has died “because it seems like everything seems to be dying on it in bits and pieces.”
As the problems have arisen, she said they’ve spent “a thousand here, a thousand there” to address them.
“So I am sharing with you today, if that LULA stops working, the only solution would be going through with less than we currently have, which would be something like we had in the old Carnegie (library) on the outside where it is not enclosed except for where the shaft would be ... or you go and we come up with a new arrangement, working with an architect, and you try to actually get an elevator somewhere,” Zydek explained.
She said Hively told her that if they’re going to plan to get an elevator to save $250,000 for it. If the library goes to a full-fledged elevator, Hively is not sure the connections could fit through the piping and the space occupied by the LULA would need to be expanded for a full elevator. The space required also might take up some of the staircase space and the circulation desk might need moved.
“That’s a big project. We’re going to try very hard not to touch the Rainy Day funds as we’re looking forward. We’re going to be looking at the 2018 budget to start the process of having some funds to have available for whenever something like that may occur. If we get a couple of years, it’s going to be awesome, as we try to work with that,” Zydek said.
Later in the meeting, Board Vice President Jill Beehler asked, “Is there anyway we can do it without the elevator and remodel it in a different way?”
Zydek said people who use wheelchairs with the current ramp in the library find it hard to maneuver. Assistant Director Joni Brookins said it has a really sharp turn.
“So, yes, it would have to be a different kind of solution somewhere else,” Zydek said.
She said that could be determined by what they find underground on the library property, how much space there is and sidewalk considerations.
In the future, she said one possibility was that the library could be expanded out into the parking lot. It could include the circulation desk at the ground level along with some meeting room space. An elevator also could be set up in that expanded area.
Paczkowski asked if the elevator was regulated by the state or federal government or both. Zydek said both.
At this point, the library is just trying to determine a direction and start saving up for whatever decision is made. Zydek said the LULA elevator has lasted about 20 years, longer than anticipated.
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