We’re still trying to get back to normal after last week’s flood, but we’re getting there.
The office had to be re-wired, but by the end of last Wednesday we were able to have de-humidifiers and heaters running in the office to speed up the drying process. The lights were fixed yesterday, and we’re hoping that today will be that last day that we’ll have the de-humidifiers running, and we’ll be able to get back into the office tomorrow.
Of course, even though our office has been out of action, we haven’t! The ESOL classes weren’t able to run last week, but have now started up again. Some staff worked from home or had outreach work and meetings outside the library, while the rest of us alternated between working in the GWL kitchen (keeping an eye on the dehumidifiers) and pigbacking on our neighbours wifi over at 103 Trongate – many thanks to GMAC for the loan of a spare room and their wifi last week, and to KOG cafe for wifi last Tuesday.
Our thanks to Helen, Chris et al from Wasps, who helped with mitigating some of the worst of the flooding in the building. And thanks to the GCC joiner and electricians who’ve been working to ensure our office is safe for us to go back to.
Many thanks also to all of you who have offered kind words and support, by phone and email, and here on the blog.
Many of you have been asking the ever present question – when are we moving to the Mitchell? I’m sure that it’s as frustrating to you as to all of us on the Library team, knowing that we’re so close to moving to new premises, but still being stuck in a cold and occasionally sodden temporary space here in Parnie Street. The simple answer is that as soon as we have raised the funds, we will be able to start work on renovating our future home in the Mitchell Library. Although we have raised some of the capital funds, with grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Robertson Trust and the Scottish Arts Council, we still have a long way to go.
Large grants and funds are, of course, a part of this, but your support is just as important. The Women on the Shelf initiative is a crucial part of our effort to raise money for the move, and allows you to be a real part of the future Women’s Library. By sponsoring a shelf, book or section in the new Women’s Library, you’re ensuring that the Library collection and archive will have a secure, custom-built (dry!) home where it is fully accessible.
