Additional experts will be called in to help solve ongoing humidity problems thought to be endangering a rare books and manuscripts collection housed in Jeffersonville.
The collection — owned by Florida-based educational organization The Remnant Trust Inc. — contains texts dating back to the 15th century.
Recently, trust officials announced that they were considering a move out of Jeffersonville because of the humidity concerns. Representatives believe the building is too dry to safely care for the books.
Mayor Tom Galligan traveled to Florida earlier this week to meet with Remnant Trust board members, putting forth a plan to solve the problems. Galligan is a member of Jeffersonville’s Carnegie Library Foundation, which helped bring the trust to the old Carnegie building in Warder Park about two years ago.
“We’re going to fix the humidity,” Galligan said in an interview Friday.
Carnegie Library Foundation chair Tom Lindley said on Friday he, too, is optimistic the problems can be solved.
“From all indications, the meeting went well,” Lindley said.
The library building, which opened in 1904, underwent $4 million worth of renovations before the trust came to the area from its previous Indiana home of Hagerstown. The foundation has had little success working with the architect of that rehabilitation project and the contractor that built the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system in order to correct the problem.
About $30,000 has been spent in an attempt to fix the humidity in the building, Lindley said last week. Galligan said the foundation will enlist the help of rare book experts and those who’ve built storage systems for such purposes.
“I’m optimistic that it’s going to stay,” he said.
The library foundation will meet with Galligan at 9 a.m. Monday to discuss where to go from here, Lindley said.
If need be, Galligan said the books could be moved to a temporary storage facility in order to keep them safe until the problem is solved.
The foundation will foot the bill for the experts. Galligan did not have an estimate as to how much it will cost.
The Remnant Trust owns a collection of about 1,000 extremely rare books and manuscripts, all of which relate to individual liberty and human dignity.
One of the most well-preserved copies of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, an original U.S. Constitution and a first edition of Frederick Douglass’ “My Bondage and My Freedom” are among some of the most significant pieces in the collection.
Clark County
Experts enlisted to save rare Remnant trust collection
-
-
Half of Jeffersonville Fire Department overtime budget already gone
During the closing moments of the meeting Councilman Matt Owen said he was shocked by Mayor Moore’s plans and comments pertaining to two Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department matters reported in the News and Tribune during the last week.
Continued ... -
Charlestown resident makes appeal for filtration plant
“I understand that manganese is a secondary contaminant and it’s not something that’s necessarily harmful to health,” Burchett said. “I would much prefer that the water that comes into my home have as little manganese in it as possible, as well as anything else. I just want water.”
Continued ... - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
Continued ... -
Elderly man robbed outside Jeffersonville bank
The man returned to his car and sat down to close the car door when Williams grabbed the door and reached inside the vehicle, Hollis said.
Continued ... -
A fair fee? Indiana imposing fees for 4-H participants for the first time
Allen said his hope is the fee being charged by the state and the county will be enough to cover costs and that 4-H members will not be asked to cover any more expenses.
Continued ...
“They have never had to pay a program fee,” Allen said. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- Feb 5, 2012
-
CAPITOL CROSSROADS: Bauer tactics unite, divide outnumbered Dems
Democrats like Rep. Peggy Welch, who was drawn into a more Republican district last year, refused to boycott with Bauer.
Continued ... -
Greater Clark begins Fitness Calendar Challenge
Teresa Stengel, health services coordinator, said if other family members get involved with students, children might be more likely to continue with exercise routines and watching their diets.
Continued ... -
Man struck, killed on I-65
The preliminary investigation shows Jones was struck by a northbound Chevrolet Penske rental van driven by Patrick Shroering, 26, of Mount Washington, Ky.
Continued ...
-
