Poor fire safety at the Library of Congress is a threat to visitors, employees, and U.S. treasures in the collection, according to a report issued January 25 by the congressional Office of Compliance. The report, based on a 12-month fire and life-safety inspection of LC buildings, stated that “some of the most valuable and irreplaceable collections in the library have the worst fire protection,” according to a January 30 Associated Press story. Among them are Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, a Gutenberg Bible, and Adolf Hitler’s book collection.
“After 20 years of filing grievances and testifying before Congress about fire hazards, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” LC Professional Guild president Saul Schniderman said February 1. The union had called for a review of emergency and fire safety procedures in 1999.
“Obviously we’re extremely concerned about it,” LC spokesperson Jill Brett told American Libraries. “In 1997 the Congressional Accountability Act required that all the Capitol buildings be brought up to standards, and our safety people have been working with the Office of Compliance on this for about a year.”
Inspectors found old, untested smoke detectors, outdated Halon gas extinguishers, and potentially explosive cylinders. They also identified a lack of fire doors, sprinklers, and alarms. Brett said about 20% of the problems, mostly design-related, will require extra funding from Congress.
Posted February 5, 2001.