Bookshelves, Lights at 27 City Libraries Need Seismic Repairs : Services: Officials are drafting plans and making cost estimates. ‘Where is the money coming from?’ a structural engineer asks.

Ceiling lights and bookshelves at 27 city libraries fail to meet new seismic codes or recommended safety standards to keep them from crashing down in an earthquake, according to city reports and library officials.

Since the Northridge quake, workers have reinforced the lights and shelves at the 15 libraries that suffered the worst damage. But city officials have yet to schedule repairs for lights and shelves at 27 branches throughout the city.

“I’m sure there are plans to do the work,” said Terry Wong, a senior structural engineer for the city’s General Services Department. “The question is: Where is the money coming from?”

City officials are drafting plans and making estimates for the cost of the repairs. The plan is expected to be completed within the next 30 days, officials said.

Because the libraries were closed when the quake hit at 4:31 a.m. on Jan. 17, there were no injuries when shelves and lights came down at the most severely damaged branches, particularly in the San Fernando Valley.

Nonetheless, library officials downplayed the potential hazards at libraries where the work has yet to be done.

“There’s really no imminent danger, but we want to mitigate it,” said Donald L. Buck, the library department’s business manager.

The light and shelf hazards were identified after the city’s Library Commission instructed staff to inspect all 62 branch libraries for seismic hazards as well as remodeling work needed to provide access to the handicapped under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The preliminary inspection found that 42 libraries, including 14 in the Valley, needed reinforcement of lights and shelves, according to a May 23 report to the commission. The report said 33 libraries did not provide handicapped access to both the building and the restrooms.

Wong and library officials confirmed the completion of light and shelf repairs at 15 libraries, most of which are in the Valley.

Fontayne Holmes, assistant director of branches for the Los Angeles Public Library, said the inspection of city libraries was a preliminary review and further analysis is needed to determine the extent of mitigation required.

“We in the library department want to proceed at due speed on this analysis and on the mitigation needed,” she said.

To reinforce the ceiling lights to meet seismic codes, workers must double the number of wires supporting each light fixture, from two to four.

The city has no specific safety code addressing bookshelves, but after the quake building officials recommended that the shelves be anchored to the floors or adjacent walls with bolts. They also recommended that sheer wall panels be installed behind the shelves to improve lateral stability.

Some library bookshelves stand up to seven feet tall and are not anchored to any wall or floor. Others have too few floor or wall anchors to meet the recommendations of building officials.

The quake caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage to about 23 libraries citywide. Ten are still closed for repairs but should be reopened by August, library officials said.

Comprising the 10 are two libraries in North Hollywood and the branches in Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Northridge, Pacoima, Reseda, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys and Los Feliz.

Work has already been completed on libraries in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Sun Valley, Panorama City, Encino, Sylmar, Canoga Park, West Los Angeles and Eagle Rock.

State and federal disaster funds are expected to pay for the structural repairs and pre-existing hazards in libraries damaged by the Northridge quake. But the money cannot be used for the pre-existing hazards in libraries that were not damaged.