New York – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it has completed repairs to several libraries in Puerto Rico with an allocation totaling $652,000.
In a statement this week, the federal agency specified that the work was carried out in Barceloneta (north), San Lorenzo (southeast) and San Juan (metropolitan area).
“Libraries are fundamental tools for students, teachers, and citizens in general. They are a space that facilitates information and provides resources, in addition to offering learning opportunities where critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork are developed. For FEMA, these are important characteristics that contribute to the comprehensive recovery of Puerto Rico, not only today, but their impact will reach future generations,” said the federal coordinator for Disaster Recovery, José G. Baquero, through written statements.
In the case of the Sixto Escobar Library in Barceloneta, the obligation of more than $532,000 replaced glass and aluminum windows, light fixtures, doors, acoustic ceilings, air conditioners and several monitors, among other elements. The allocation for the project, in the space built in 1994 and organized by a committee of volunteers, also included an allocation of nearly $102,000 for risk mitigation measures, such as anchoring systems for the air conditioners and waterproof asphalt membrane on the roof.
According to the supervisor of Federal Programs of the Municipality of Barceloneta, Berenice Reyes Machado, the library offers services to between 600 and 1,800 participants monthly.
“Repairs are of utmost importance, as they preserve the building and, consequently, benefit tourists and the community. In addition, these repairs allow for the guarantee of the collections and the equipment,” added Reyes Machado.
In the Cerro Gordo neighborhood of San Lorenzo, two educational and community service facilities received FEMA funding. With the more than $61,000 obligated for the Josefa Domingo Virtual Library, the roof waterproofing system, acoustic panels, an air conditioning unit, and signage were replaced, among other alterations.
The second impacted space was the Josefa Domingo Community Education and Recreation Center, which received $40,000 for a roof waterproofing system, reinforcing material to prevent collapse, and a slope to prevent water accumulation.
Both facilities serve about 100 people a month, mainly students and seniors.
The spaces are located in a disused school built in 1950 that bears the name of the aforementioned educator, who worked for many years at the school before her death.
In San Juan, the allocation of more than $19,400 to the Francisco Oller Library of the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico (EAPD) was used for specialized cleaning tasks. The funds were also used to restore eight boxes of books with mold and fix water damage, in addition to replacing a total of 69 damaged books. A repair of 21 framed pieces and one piece of 12 frames was also carried out.
This library offers services to the university community, researchers and the general public. On average, it receives 1,900 students and 100 visitors per month.
The director of the EAPD library, Estrella del R. Vázquez Domínguez, highlighted that, among other things, the modifications made it easier for staff to return to work.
“Both the repairs and the cleaning, disinfection and mold control services allowed our staff to return to work within the facilities, since the priority was to protect the health of employees and users. The installation of a new air conditioner also allowed us to deal with the proliferation of fungi that affected our collections,” he said.
The executive director of the Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3), Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, stated that “the work carried out in these libraries, in addition to providing structural resilience, preserves the material and tools that students need for their academic performance.”
The director of COR3 added that, according to the Quarterly Progress Report as of June 30 of this year, some 15 libraries are in the process of being rebuilt at an approximate cost of $3.7 million.
“Our team will continue to assist municipalities in this important process that contributes to preserving our island’s libraries,” he said.
COR3 is the state agency created under Executive Order OE-2017-65 after Hurricane Maria to disburse federal funds for permanent reconstruction works once FEMA requires them.
To date, FEMA has allocated nearly $34 billion for more than 11,000 recovery projects in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
In an interview with El Diario after storm Ernesto passed through the island in the middle of last month, Laboy Rivera said that the impact of the cyclone is not similar to that of hurricanes Maria and Irma, but that until he receives the reports from all the municipalities and agencies, his office cannot give an accurate estimate of the damage.
Last week, the official was at the FEMA Region 2 offices in New York to discuss that and other issues.
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