Part of the delay is the nature of the problem. A movie documenting this crisis captures the nature of the decay in its title: "Slow Fires."
"It's an old problem of social choice. There's a serious problem, but it's slow and gradual. If there were a real fire in the stacks, everyone would be calling someone to put it out," Verba says.
What Now?
Despite the difficulty of raising the money to renovate Widener, Provost Albert Carnesale says that the University does not plan to alter how it will pay for the improvements-they will continue to work to raise the money.
Dean of the FAS Jeremy R. Knowles also says that the effort to raise the money will continue, though he suggests that as the Campaign comes closer to its end, the College will begin looking for more flexible gifts and it can put money where it is needed.
Both Knowles and Carnesale emphasize that the library's part of the campaign will receive increased emphasis in the coming months.
Rudenstine expresses a stronger sentiment of support, saying he will direct funding to the project if need be.
"We will help," he says. "We are already targeting several major donors."
But whether the money can be raised remains a pressing question.
"I think the money is going to be found. We hope, we hope, we hope," says Professor of Chinese History Peter K. Bol.
But Dean of Administration Nancy L. Maull says, "I don't really think we know yet [whether we can raise the money]. It's a very worthwhile thing to raise money for."
But even after Widener is taken care of, Merrill-Oldam says that the University libraries' problems are far from over.
Every library that stores materials printed on acid paper--every library at Harvard--needs climate control, which means many of them will need large scale environmental upgrades and renovations like Widener's, she says.
Cline plans to start the Widener renovation in the next two or three years and "no later than that," she says. Of course, it would begin sooner if funding comes through.
"Harvard should really open the next century with this library better equipped to deal with its future," Cline says.