Norman seeks legal council's help amid library mold situation

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) - The Norman Central Public Library remains closed after months of mold issues.

The city of Norman said they’ve hired outside legal counsel to reach a resolution for it’s repair and reopening as soon as possible.

The property of the library remains closed of with no trespassing signs and a fence surrounding since mold was discovered growing inside back in November 2023.

The Norman City Council took steps to hire outside legal counsel back in April when it was closed indefinitely. They sent KFOR a statement that said they hired them to reach an “amicable resolution with the other parties that will result in the library being repaired and reopened as soon as possible.”

"We have met with them, we are sharing documents with them and we kind of have our initial plan going forward,” city officials said during a finance committee meeting back in mid-May.

Officials said in the same meeting that they’re not sure what the issues will cost, but no official litigation has taken place.

"How much money is too much for us to get the repairs done up front before we get into legal settlements?” they said.

On the same date as that meeting, Cavins Disaster Response Group did a thermal investigation of the building for the city after storms blew through the area. They found water leakage in multiple areas on every floor. A different restoration company told KFOR back in November that usually will happen if there’s a lack of proper engineering and control. So, Cavins recommended drying out the structure, treating it with anti-microbial product and addressing high temperatures and humidity inside or “worsening microbial growth is inevitable.”

In the committee meeting, officials said they hope to have a firmer grasp of the cost while working with the counsel. KFOR reached out to multiple design and architecture firms associated with the libraries design and construction, but we haven not heard back.