Planning and Natural Resources officials, along with Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls, told reporters during a press conference Monday that the Charles Wesley Turnbull Regional Library should be ready for a “soft launch” in June, at a cost thus far of $22 million.
The remaining work needed to complete the Estate Tutu facility will be finished by October, they said.
Officials said in February 2013 that the library should open in March. Most recently, concerns circulated about new delays in the project after local media outlets reported on various citations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Speaking during the press conference Monday, DPNR Commissioner Alicia Barnes said the citations particularly addressed problems with the library’s air conditioning system, which Smalls later explained dealt with a malfunctioning valve that had created a leak.
"We were able to bypass those problems, while a new part was ordered," Smalls added. Barnes also said that the department had not yet received an official report from OSHA, but that a new inspection from OSHA was not required in order for the library to open.
Meanwhile, both officials said that the main concern about the opening of the library was problems with the roof. Smalls explained that the facility was "essentially completed" and turned over to DPNR in December 2012, and that both the government and contractor Balbo Construction had since been responding to what Smalls said were "typical maintenance issues."
"We have responded to each concern," Smalls said, adding that while the roof had been installed in accordance with all the plans and specs, there was still an issue with it expanding and sliding during the day, which had not been anticipated. Public Works and the contractor had continued to monitor the problem, and the decision was made to have the roof completely replaced – at no cost to the government, he said.
"The cost will be borne by the contractor, who supplied the original roof," Smalls added. He said that a new system will be approved by the end of May, while installation will start in June.
The government had recently approved additional maintenance work on the facility, which Smalls said would not prevent the library from opening but will be finished by October. The work includes a new photovoltaic system for the roof to cut down on energy costs, landscaping, making the building more handicapped accessible and putting signage at the entryway, among other things.
Barnes said DPNR, under its Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums had occupied the building after it was turned over in late 2012 and has been "working feverishly" ever since to "ensure that the operations of the library can commence."
"We have had some unplanned challenges, but we have been working with Public Works to ensure that we can get everything open and running smoothly," she added.
Barnes said currently, DPNR staff has been shelving the library’s collections – including the general reading area, children’s and adult collections – and have been cataloging the inventory so that the building can open as soon as possible.
"We have also been working with the Division of Personnel to advertise vacancies to ensure that we have a full complement of staff for a soft opening," she said. Barnes explained that the job postings were recently closed, with a list delivered last Friday, and that interviews will soon begin.
Meanwhile, since the Enid Baa Library downtown closed in December 2012, Barnes said the district’s book mobiles will continue to circulate more, providing library-related services to residents.
"We hope to have our soft launch in the middle or latter part of June of this year, and all indications are that we’re going to meet that date," Barnes said. "Notwithstanding the physical plant issues that we are working to address, we will still be able to open and start operations while the other work that was discussed is completed."
The library is expected to contain: a 3,500 square-foot children’s reading room, a mezzanine with a young adult’s collection, a Caribbean room, a public auditorium, a central computer system for all the territory’s libraries, conference rooms and a display area for Taino Indian artifacts that were found during the initial construction of the Tutu Park Mall.
