Brief closing of Warsaw library was caused by electrical shortage with HVAC system
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Warsaw Community Public Library appears to have dodged a bullet recently when it was closed for a day last week.
The problem involved an electrical shortage with a chiller that keeps the server room cool.
Library Board President Chris Merrill explained to the board Monday what happened over the long Fourth of July weekend.
Staff leqarnd about it when they came into work the following Monday.
“It was over 80 degrees (inside) and the server room was over 92. Generally, as best practice you want to make sure and shut off your server hardware once it hits 90 degrees or higher to protect the equipment because it is very expensive,” Merrill said Monday.
Unfortunately, a computer that sends out alerts on such mechanical issues did not work, he said.
“It’s what manages the lights, the sprinkler system, the HVAC, every piece of it is managed by this computer that’s very old and it has a habit of seizing up and we haven’t replaced it because it’s a half a million dollars to replace … by itself. That’s just the computer. So we have not done that yet. We were counting on the bond to do that so we’re going to have to make other plans, Merrill said.
Merrill said the situation would have been worse if the HVAC system had failed. That would have involved closing of the library for at least two weeks.
On Monday, the library board outlined new priorities including upgrades to the cooling system in the server room. Another priority is replacing the dry sprinkler system but that cost is expected to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Merrill said the board has had a priority list in recent years, but updated it to focus on short-term needs after a $17 million bond request by the library was rejected by Warsaw City Council in a 4-3 vote on May 18 after a five-hour meeting.
He said the board will rely on money from its rainy day fund for part of the most immediate repairs.
The board can’t seek another bond for two years and has turned to relying on fund raising efforts.
A newly established fund has received about $72,000, including a single $50,000 contribution.
Board members expressed gratitude for the strong start to the campaign effort and encouraged the public to learn more about how they can assist.
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