Since Sept. 5, it has been about two months that the escalator in the library has malfunctioned and has been closed off.
Emma Gibson, the interim dean of the University Library, stated a port was needed to make the repairs. But the port needs to be shipped from overseas, delaying the process of fixing the escalator.
Since then, Facilities Planning and Management put caution signs surrounding the escalator that state it’s waiting for parts that are being shipped from overseas.
However, it wasn’t until Oct. 31 that Facilities Planning and Management received the part needed to fix the malfunctioned escalator, according to Gibson.
Walking by the escalator Friday evening, one can witness an escalator repairer assessing the situation. However, it is not clear if the job will get done by the expected date of Nov. 8.
Students have shared their thoughts about the delayed maintenance of the escalator.
“Paying tuition, it sucks that our money seems like it’s not being put to use,” said Sebastian Laguna, a third-year history student. “It’s just an inconvenience, as it can get pretty crowded on the stairs.”
Christian Arredondo | The Poly Post
Alternatively, students can utilize the elevator located on the first floor of the University Library.
However, the elevator on the first floor has also recently malfunctioned.
Both the escalator and elevator aid students with mobility issues. Because of the malfunctions, University Library staff has been assisting students to get to the second floor.
“We have a sign on the door near the elevator, and students just give us a call at circulation desk. And someone would come down and they would bring them up to the second floor in the back way of the library … because we have other service elevators too,” Gibson said.
Some students don’t seem to mind the maintenance issue, but can relate to the long waiting process of having it fixed.
“I think there are similar issues on campus that have been issues for a while,” said Diane Margo, a fourth-year computer science student. “But I think the escalator is most popular because the library is a place where a lot of people go and the stairs could get packed during rush hour.”
Currently, it seems that mechanical errors seem to be happening all at once in the University Library. But Gibson has not had an issue with student complaints.
“And this is unusual because usually we don’t have so many mechanical errors at the same time,” Gibson said. “I haven’t received a lot of complaints. I think as a whole (students) have been very civil.”