City officials in Madison, Wisconsin are reevaluating their consideration to use a long-vacant building as the temporary home for the Central Library after asbestos has been found throughout the building.
Library director Barb Dimick and real estate agent Don Marx have been sizing up the property and its potential to house the Central Library for an 18-month period. Marx has acknowledged that they are aware of the asbestos in the building and Dimick has assured that no documents have been signed regarding the lease.
Developer and owner of the neighboring building, Cliff Fisher thinks the problem is too much for the city to take on. Fisher considered buying the building at 316 W. Washington Ave years ago but decided against the purchase after he learned that asbestos is present on all floors of the 11-story building and in the structural components.
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer. Mesothelioma  develops when asbestos fibers enter the body and attack the lining of the stomach, lungs or heart. There is no cure for the disease but palliative treatments do exist.
The asbestos will need to be removed should the library decide to occupy the building. The decision will be made after assessment of the necessity and cost of the project.
Source: http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=29557