In Philadelphia, libraries are more than just places to check out books. They also offer places to cool down on hot days or warm up on cool ones. They act as host sites for summer meal programs for children from lower-income families. They offer meeting spaces and programming that community organizations and families depend on.

But, they can only do all that if they remain open.

That’s currently the challenge at Lovett Memorial Library on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy, which has faced repeated closures this year due to indoor humidity issues. It’s been a recurrent issue at the library, a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, for several summers now, and appears to have developed after a major, $6.7 million renovation was completed less than a decade ago.

Last summer, Free Library officials told the Local they planned to fix the problem by spending an additional $21,000 to install new HVAC equipment in September 2023. But a year later the problem persists, prompting a fresh public meeting on the issue, held at the library on Tuesday, July 9.

Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and Ty DuPass, Deputy Director of Property Management said the problems began under their predecessors, and that rather than explore what went wrong they intended to focus on “moving forward” and working to keep the library consistently open.

“I can't get into the mind of – what happened prior. But we're not doing that again. We're just not doing that again," Richards said. "We're moving forward, doing it differently."

DuPass, who joined the library as head of property management last August, explained that according to the city’s workplace rules, once a certain measure of heat and humidity is reached the building must close. Lovett’s humidity levels have reached into the mid-70s, he said. 

The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, an independent nonprofit that supports the Free Library system, has stepped in with a temporary fix by purchasing several mobile dehumidification units that were installed at the library this month. He also said engineers would be evaluating the space for the renting of “industrial strength equipment.”

Longer term, DuPass said, the building’s HVAC system needs a thorough evaluation before deciding on a permanent solution. He did not have further details or a timeline. 

"I want to at least get us through the summer... and that'll buy us time to get engineers out, get pricing, get bids," DuPass said. "If all the stars and the moon align then we can possibly get this done way before the beginning of next summer."

Several members of the public questioned why the library found itself in this position in the first place. 

“We are grateful that you can find a way to get it open," said Phyllis Martino, President of the Friends of Lovett Library, but added that she finds it “problematic” that officials don’t seem to understand the root of the problem. 

Last August, DuPass’ predecessor, Jim Pecora told The Local that major renovations to the library, which closed it for 18 months between 2016 and 2017, did not include the installation of a “dehumidification sequence” in the building’s HVAC systems. Trenton Smiley, a then-spokesperson for the Free Library, further added that such equipment was not required at the time the system was designed, but that more recently, climate change and other issues have resulted in new design standards.

Regardless, Pecora said the Free Library planned to fix the problem with a $21,000 dehumidification sequence that would be installed over several days last September.

That appears to have never come to pass, and it isn’t clear why. Dupass took over the job in late August 2023 and decided on the current plan, a Library spokesperson said. 

Marsha Stender, who was branch manager for Lovett Library from the time of its renovation until her retirement last summer, provided some insights during an interview last week.

Stender said it quickly became apparent that the building’s HVAC system had numerous issues post-renovation, including temperature. In the winter, staff members can get so cold in certain parts of the building that they have to wear heavy clothing and fingerless gloves, Stender said. In the summer comes the humidity, and surface temperatures on the library’s large windows that can exceed 100 degrees. She was concerned with other aspects of the renovation as well, such as a lack of electrical outlets in key areas.

Stender said she believes the problems could have resulted from having “too many cooks in the kitchen” among subcontractors and a lack of overall communication. For the humidity issue specifically, she suspects that a “flapper” on a piece of equipment on the building’s roof may have a design flaw that causes it to let in more outside air than it should, driving up the humidity levels. She says workers were called in several times to repair it during her tenure but the problems persisted.

Whatever the cause, library officials both last summer and this year have not pointed the finger at contractors used during the renovation. After an audience member at last week’s meeting asked about potentially pursuing such parties for financial restitution, Library officials said contractors on the project followed the specifications they were given. 

“If you didn’t ask for it, you can’t hold somebody accountable,” Richards said.

Asked by an attendee how the Mt. Airy community could ensure Lovett continues to be prioritized, Richards offered a carefully-worded suggestion.

"Keep doing what you're doing... that's the easiest way I can say that without getting myself in trouble," Richards said. "You know the old term the squeaky wheel? Keep squeaking."