DURING yesterday's Press conference, the National Union of Public Workers' industrial relations officer Delcia Burke outlined the following issues now facing the National Library Service:

* The branch in Bridgetown and branches throughout the country have a problem with excessive heat. The buildings have not been maintained, the windows cannot be opened and, as a result, the buildings are extremely hot;

* There are few air-conditioning units and some are not working properly because the buildings have not been maintained;

* Very cramped working conditions, especially in Bridgetown. This is as a result of conditions upstairs which caused everyone to move downstairs. So you have twice as many people working in an area as should be working;

* Poor lighting conditions;

* Inadequate seating. Members of the public are sitting down with the library staff at the Bridgetown branch;

* The structural conditions of the main library (Bridgetown) are not good;

* There is fungus growing from the walls;

* Men and women are using the same bathrooms downstairs; and small children are using the same bathrooms as the characters who frequent the library;

* No emergency exit at some of the branches. Only one entrance and exit;

* Parking problems in Bridgetown;

* A 15-year-old van used for outreach programmes often breaks down, is hot, smelly and is used to carry workers and also bush.