The new elevator at the Bartholomew County Public Library could be in use for the first time by next week if a single part arrives, is installed, and the unit is then inspected.
Library director Jason Hatton offered that update Monday before the regular meeting of the library board at the venue at 536 Fifth St. in downtown Columbus. A shaft ladder that technicians use when repairing the unit and getting in and out of the cab is the part that library staff is waiting on.
“This has been less than ideal and has been very frustrating,” Hatton said of delays. “I have been very hopeful that it would be fixed by now. But people have been great about it.”
The unit is especially significant not only for people with physical limitations but also for mothers with infants in strollers trying to reach the ground-floor children’s level.
Hatton pointed out that the $110,000 unit already has been tested and works well, but, according to regulations, cannot legally operate without the needed ladder.
The original elevator, which had been in service for more than 50 years, originally failed on March 24 of last year, but was repaired. The original elevator was then replaced in November by the new unit, which is yet to be certified for use.
In that time, the library has closed lower-level meeting rooms and moved all programming to the main level of the building.
