Books too hot to handle
Students simmer over study swelter
By Michael Doke
Of the Emrrjld
It you're in the University library and find
yourself getting hot under the collar, it may not be
tomorrow's exam that's got you steamed. The answer
may lie in a long-standing problem.
That the library is stuffy is not news — students
and staff have had heated complaints for quite
awhile. University Librarian George Shipman says.
What is news is that people are not the only ones
sweltering in the heat, he says. The library's $50
million stock in materials is also on the burner.
“Preservation of library materials bought in the
1930s is now at a crisis point. The paper found in
books breaks down faster as the temperature in
creases. And there is a real possibility that books
read by students now won't be availible for their
grandchildern," Shipman says.
Between 25 and 50 percent of library materials
cannot tolerate another circulation because of
deterioration, Shipman says.
The problem lies in the library's heating system
itself, says Physical Plant Director Harold Babcock.
“Then if something goes wrong, things just get
worse."
“I'm not convinced that the system was adequate
at the time it was built," Shipman says. "It's like star
ting a fight with one hand tied behind your back."
The library is basically one building, built in 1937,
with two additions which were built in the 1950s and
1960s. The additions resulted in three different
systems, all reflecting the technology of their respec
tive eras, Babcock says.
“But it's easy to blame the design of the building
then just say ‘there's nothing we can do about it,' "
he says.
One problem is the volume of air that comes out
of the air vents, says George Bynon, director of ad
minstrative services for the main library. The entire
system must be rebalanced so that hot air flows
where it is needed.
The system's age is also a problem, Bynon says.
"Technology from 1937 is being called on to heat
part of the building. You can no longer buy parts for
it. Once a repair crew came in to look at the system
and one of them said, I've only seen that in a tex
tbook,' " Bynon says.
Additions and remodeling the building have also
caused problems, Babcock says.
"As we remodel we change heating needs.
Distribution problems occur and the entire system
needs to be balanced again," he says.
Rebalancing a heating system is expensive, Bab
cock says. All heating vents and control boxes would
have to be monitored and brought in line with one
another. This would take time and quite a deal of
money, he says.
"To originally balance Oregon Hall it cost
$25,000. And that building is much more
sophisticated than the library," he says.
"Given that, you can understand the cost of
rebalancing the library."
Buildings older than the library, like Deady Hall,
have the worst heating problems at the University,
while newer buildings like the law school and the
EMU are easier to control, he says.
And people are another source for the problem,
Babcock says. "They open the windows and adjust
the thermostats. They don't understand that the
system can regulate itself if they would leave it alone.
"When the windows are opened it defeats the
whole ventilation system."
"You can't blame people for opening windows
when it's so hot in the library," Bynon counters. "It's
a real problem when you have somebody who needs
to do research but can't because of the heat.".
In the final analysis, it seems money is at the
heart of the issue.
"The fault doesn't belong to the physical plant, I
think they do a tremendous job." he says. "The main
culprit is funding."
But there are other avenues that can help, at
least.
One is to complain, Bynon says. "We go through
our suggestion box every week so if there is a pro
blem we can be aware of it."
Clothing is another adjustment that can be made
to control the heat, Babcock says. If students think it
is too hot in the library, they should dress according
ly, he says.
"If someone could show me a way to help the
problem, I'd like to hear it," Shipman says. "The
heating problem does not reflect our standards in
scholarship and it is not tair to our students."
Rutan to vie for council post
University graduate.Roger Rutan
announced Tuesday he will run
tor the Ward 8 position on the
Eugene City Council, an area
covering part of the West Eugene
area south of Royal Avenue and
west of City View Street.
The position will be vacated by
council member Brian Obie, who
said last week he will not seek re
election when his term expires
Jan. 7, 1985.
Rutan, vice-chair of the Eugene
Planning Commission and a
member of the Eugene Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors,
said in a news conference "My
strong desire to serve and my ex
tensive background of community
service qualifies me as a
councilor.
"My three years on the Eugene
Planning Commission have given
me an excellent education in land
use planning and on the
Metropolitan Area General Plan,
topics that take some time on the
council's agenda," Rutan said.
He stressed fiscal planning and
budgeting, economic develop
ment, the River Road/Santa Clara
issue and leadership as areas
relative to the council's role in the
future.
Rutan expressed the need "to
strengthen and revise our
economic development pro
grams, not just those run by the ci
ty." He called for continued close
liaison with other programs.
The River Road/Santa Clara area
probably will become part of the
city of Eugene, despite efforts by
residents there to incorporate
their own city, Rutan said.
Annexing the area "in an order
ly, friendly, cost-effective fashion
will take strong leadership from
the council. I know the problems,
the issues and the challenges. And
I'm ready to face them,” he said.
Rutan, who lives in Eugene with
his wife, Karen, and his daughters,
|i!l, 11, and Stephanie, 8,
graduated from the University in
1969.
He is a member of the Universi
ty Masters of Business Administra
tion program and is an adviser to
the Lane Community College
Small Business Management
Program.
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