Union calls for better staffing at recently fire-damaged Bjørvika Library in Oslo

Several union representatives have called for increase staffing at the recently fire hit Deichman Bjørvika Library in Oslo.

Union representatives want more staff at night

Union representatives have called for an increased level of staff at Oslo’s Deichmann Bjørvika public library at night. According to a source obtained by the newspaper Klassekampen, there were only four employees on duty along with three security guards the night of the recent fire.

Though this was in line with staffing levels, the main union representative at the library, Jenny Dellegård, wants more staff on duty at night. She spoke to the newspaper of her hopes for adequate staffing, “…of course, we would like to see that there were employees on each floor. It is important to be present ‘on the floor’ and to be available to visitors.”

When asked for comment, Merete Lie, the director of the library, would not elaborate on staffing levels. Explaining this in an email, she wrote “We have both employees and security guards at work, but we do not comment on the number for safety reasons.”

Librarians union wants more staffing, fire damage appeared worse than it was

The Norwegian Librarian’s Association has also pushed for better staffing levels at the library. Kjersti Steien, a shop steward for the Association, was thankful that no one was hurt during the recent fire yet “…we believe and have also expressed before that it is not optimal with such a low staffing in such a large building.”

The recent fire started on a sofa and soon spread up a wall. The sprinkler system, on the fourth floor, was soon activated and released thousands of liters of water. Luckily though, not only was no one hurt during the evacuation but the library only lost 100 books to water damage. In a press release, the library said that “the extent of the damage is far less than the reports on Tuesday night gave the impression of.”

Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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