Copper thieves shut down downtown library
The downtown library, which seemingly has been under renovation forever, is shut down today.
The shutdown wasn't planned. Rather, as the Chronicle's David Ellison reports, the library was forced to shut down today because of another brazen instance of copper theft:
The Julia Ideson Building, which houses reference and circulation services for the downtown Central Library while it's under renovation, is closed today while workers repair damage from a copper wiring theft at the library.
Houston Public Library spokeswoman Sandra Fernandez said the wiring was cut about 10:15 p.m. Sunday from the electrical system of the downtown Central Library. Because the electrical box is next to the Ideson Building, workers had to cut its power to perform the repairs, she said.
"Well, without any light, we cannot operate," Fernandez said. "We had to send everyone home, or tell them to stay home, as the case may be."
The Ideson Building, the oldest in the library system, is the permanent residence for the Houston Metropolitan Research Center that includes archival, Texas and local history, and special collections departments.
The Houston Police Department is investigating the theft.
Houston seemingly had already ceded downtown to vagrants. Apparently, copper thieves feel right at home too -- on city property no less!
UPDATE: KHOU-11's Leigh Frillici, who has been doing some excellent reporting on the copper theft problem, has more detail on this theft and others on city property:
Someone took the copper wiring from the back-up generator at the Central Library overnight.
That cut power there and at the Ideson building next door.
Both were closed Monday.
“Customers, you and I, citizens, lost a day not using the facilities,” said Issa Dadoush. He’s with Houston Greater Services.
And it was revealed that the city lost even more.
In the past two years copper thieves have hit five city buildings.
Sunnyside Health Center, the Dixon and Smith Libraries, the Kashmere Multi-Service Center and now the generator at the Central Library.
The grand total in repairs stands at $150,000.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 12/03/07 04:34 PM | Print |
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