So, uh, what's up with the fire?

Good question. I've been waiting for an official statement of some sort from our administration, but it's been over six weeks now, so I guess I'm on my own. We lost a fair chunk of journals in the first quarter or so of the LC numbers, but it could have been a lot worse. The archival material, gov docs, reference, and general book collection seem fine. They say the microforms survived as well. (To which I can only say rude comments about microforms, so I'll refrain.) The basement is being completely gutted, and I don't know the latest opening date on it. The surviving journals are all in Texas right now.

Ever positive folks that librarians are, we're using this opportunity to start the remodel of the reference area that we've wanted for over a decade. If all goes according to plan, a wall's being knocked down and staff space will become public space. We're supposed to get new carpet, too. Currently, the reference area is a giant empty cavern with no furniture, shelves, or books. It's a little awe-inspiring.

The second and third floors have been cleaned. (Yay BMS Cat!) Every book was vacuumed, every shelf wiped down. It's amazing.

The ceiling tiles are still out, though. And the fire alarm still hasn't been replaced. (Neither has the electrical stuff that melted during the main event.) So we all get firewatch shifts--walking around with an airhorn and a master key--to make sure that, you know, there isn't anything on fire. Otherwise, except for the administration, we're not allowed back into the building. We're doing reference in the student union. (That god for electronic access to stuff.) Circulation folks come in twice a day to retrieve requested books. (100 or so a day, proving that paper isn't quite dead yet.) We're all sort of half working from home, half working wherever there's a space.

I've gotten very, very grumpy.