There is a very comprehensive library and information collection in my home. Our local post office and contents were completely destroyed by fire this week. Monday was an American holiday. Apparently, the fire had a good smoldering start in the attic over the weekend. About 9 am Tuesday, a clerk saw a ceiling tile fall and the building filled with smoke. Soon, there were huge flames bursting through the roof. It is under investigation, but gossip is the attic where all the high tech wiring, heating, air conditioning equipment, etc. were located, had no smoke detector! The building was opened, new, 7 years ago. I need to know if any lace/embroidery magazines were destroyed, in order to keep my library complete. If you live in the U.S., and you received any lace or embroidery guild magazines/bulletins last week - or this - please contact me privately with delivery information. What can we learn from this? All of you are most precious, and hopefully you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your homes. If you spend a lot of time in a building elsewhere, inquire about safety features in place. Always be aware of building exits, and confirm they are not locked (they may be alarmed, so ask and hope for an honest answer). I once followed a fire exit sign at a crowded registration area of an Embroiderers' Guild National Seminar in Louisville Kentucky. The staircase led down to a dead end in the basement ! I mean a concrete wall, and no way out. Makes one wonder about local occupancy permits and fire department inspections. For the safety of everyone, if you are involved in selecting a meeting place and conference rooms, be sure you walk the exits before you sign a contract. ALWAYS. If you are at a lodging place, be sure you know where the exits are, and it is a good idea to have a purse-size flashlight handy. Stairs usually have emergency lighting, but what if it is not working? I request a room on a low floor in very large hotels, knowing it will be easier to exit if elevators cannot be used. In restaurants, sit facing exits and look for other exit options. All these precautions were taught to me at safety meetings held at AT&T over 25 years ago. You've seen the news reports from around the world. Be observant. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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