Birmingham Central Library Elevators, Escalators Broken

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/05/IMG_8825.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1278;s:4:"file";s:20:"2016/05/IMG_8825.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-771x513.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:513;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-768x511.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:511;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"IMG_8825-1536x1022.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1022;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"IMG_8825-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_8825-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:2152437;s:14:"optimized_size";i:188668;s:7:"percent";d:91.230000000000004;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:48:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1972828;s:14:"optimized_size";i:79392;s:7:"percent";d:95.980000000000004;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5442;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4108;s:7:"percent";d:24.510000000000002;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14552;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9631;s:7:"percent";d:33.82;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-771x513.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:60941;s:14:"optimized_size";i:33809;s:7:"percent";d:44.520000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:32846;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18900;s:7:"percent";d:42.460000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16810;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10889;s:7:"percent";d:35.219999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25209;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16051;s:7:"percent";d:36.329999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19269;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12467;s:7:"percent";d:35.299999999999997;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/IMG_8825-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4540;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3421;s:7:"percent";d:24.649999999999999;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Lessie Dingler
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1637598468 
1463482571

The sign on the broken escalator says use the elevator. The sign on the broken elevator says take the stairs. This is what visitors and staff of the downtown library are currently dealing with.

The elevators and escalators at the Birmingham Public Library Central Branch are out of service and have been for quite some time.

Escalators have been out of service for more than a year.

Lessie Dingler,WBHM
Escalators have been out of service for more than a year.

Those who can, climb the stairs.

“It’s a challenge. It’s like a work-out,” says patron Lacy Bonner, who comes to the library almost every day to use the computers, located on the third floor. Bonner says he usually takes the elevator located in the Linn Henley Library across the street. “But I wanted to get some exercise today. I never exert myself like that and that’s a big exertion.”

Those who can’t walk up the stairs have two choices: Use the elevator in the Linn Henley Library and walk across the third-floor bridge into the main building, or be escorted by a library staff member in the service elevator that would otherwise be off limits to patrons.

Angela Fisher Hall, director of the Birmingham Public Library system, says the escalators have been out of service for over a year and the elevators for about two weeks.

Call City Council

Lessie Dingler,WBHM
Sign on the door of the first-floor elevator

“Usually when they go down, the city sends someone over right away to get them repaired,” explains Hall. “This time the repairs are going to cost so much that we really have to get it all approved by the city council. And so that’s what’s taking so long.”

At their meeting today, May 17, the Birmingham City Council approved funds to repair the elevators. The cost per elevator is just over $33,000 and repairs should start immediately.

And the escalators? Well, Hall says, that’s a different story.

“At this point they cannot be repaired. And so they have to be replaced,” she says.

Hall says there are plans in the works for a major renovation project at the downtown library. That includes replacing the existing, three-story, broken escalator system with a central staircase. Appropriations for this project should come once the city passes its capital budget, she says.

 

Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker’s killing

Carey Dale Grayson was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother’s home in Louisiana.

You can sword-fight at this club. But no politics allowed

At the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters club, members are asked to leave their politics at the door, a rule that has led to closer relationships and more learning from one another.

How will China impact the future of climate change? You might be surprised

As a new Trump administration signals a retreat on climate action, China is stepping up. China is the biggest producer of climate technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.

More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are recalled for possibly having E. coli

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted federal authorities about several illnesses in the past week.

President-elect set to shape ‘Trump judiciary’ for next generation

Legal experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will move quickly next year to cement and extend his legacy in appointing federal judges.

Mama Stamberg’s relish faces its toughest critics: NPR staffers

Susan Stamberg returns with her annual love letter to the pink pile of Thanksgiving mush known as Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish.

More Arts and Culture Coverage