Ohio library to undergo asbestos abatement, renovationsCuyahoga Falls, Ohio - In Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the upper level of the Cuyahoga Falls Library will undergo renovations and asbestos removal in early 2010. According to Kevin Rosswurm, the library's director, the 2010 project is part of a three-pronged project that began in 2006. The aging library is almost 40 years old, and the majority of the upgrades will involve improvements to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as lighting "to make the library more energy efficient and more comfortable."
"We will also make the upper level more attractive and easier for patrons to find what they want," said Rosswurm. "The taller stacks will be moved to the perimeter of the room and shorter stacks will be used in the center of the room so that you will be able to see from one end of the upper level to the other...We hope we're going to get some pretty good competitive pricing [due to the current economic climate]."
The asbestos abatement work must be completed before construction can begin. This will prevent the material from becoming airborne, and minimizing the risk of accidental inhalation. If inhaled or ingested, asbestos fibers can damage the lungs and other organs, ultimately leading to the rare cancer mesothelioma in some patients.
Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 new patients in the United States every year, with that number expected to increase over the coming years. The disease often lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms.
"We'd like to start construction in February 2010 and finish within 12 to 13 months," said Rosswurm. "We will complete the project in three separate phases, keeping the other two sections open for business while the third section is under construction."
