Hello Cheyenne,
I’m really sorry to hear about the flooding! Heather has good advice. Can the map drawers be removed and case frames be pulled off of one another? Then you could pick up the map case base (if you have one)
and clean the area. We’ve moved our map cases three times in the last 10-15 years and this is the easiest way to move them out of the way. I’m also happy to talk on the phone if that’s easier.
Best,
-Greg
Gregory H. March
Map & Government Information Librarian
Associate Professor
University of Tennessee
Hodges Library
Knoxville, TN 37996
865-974-3878
Research Guides – Anthropology,
Earth & Planetary Sciences,
Geography,
Maps,
Government
Tennessee Committee on Geographic Names
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]>
On Behalf Of Cheyenne Stradinger
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 5:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Flood in our map library
Thank you all for the responses so far. They've been very helpful.
It looks like all of our maps are fine and cleaners have been there since Monday with dehumidifiers and have sucked up all of the water.
The main issue at this point is what to do with these heavy cases. We still need to move these cases away from the wall, as well as dry the areas underneath. Because the cases are so heavy, we're
wondering if others have had to move cases away from the area. Would it be easier to prop them up somehow so that area underneath can dry and no cases had to be moved-only lifted? Any other options?
Thanks for the cleaning advice. The cases are painted metal, so treating them like a dirty car seems easy enough.
Cheyenne
Cheyenne Stradinger, MLIS
Library Information Specialist 3 / Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) Librarian
Centennial Science & Engineering Library
University of New Mexico
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Ross, Heather <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 3:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Flood in our map library
[EXTERNAL]
Oh No!!
We have had standing water in our collections 5 times in 3 years until the issue was fixed. If the water did not touch the bottom drawers you should be fine. BUT you must remove all the
map drawers from the bottom cases so the water can be vacuumed out and the get lots of air circulation. Important to do this NOW! Im have lots more to say. I’ll PM you my cell phone. I’m happy to talk any time. Time is of the essence so call me ASAP.
Heather Ross
Map Specialist
Penn State
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Cheyenne Stradinger <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:32:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Flood in our map library
Good afternoon,
On Monday, the area where many of our map cases are located was flooded. I'm wondering if any of you all have dealt with this and what best options are when dealing with wastewater exposure to
the map cases. The water was clearish, but contaminated and went about an inch high. We now have to move these exposed map cases (potentially 4 to 5 cases high and each case has 4 drawers) and will need to be moved to sterilize underneath.
Help!
Cheyenne Stradinger
Cheyenne Stradinger, MLIS
Library Information Specialist 3 / Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) Librarian
Centennial Science & Engineering Library
University of New Mexico