The National Library of Australia expects to have to replace or upgrade marble panels on its facade within a couple of years but says they present no danger to the public.
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After revelations this week that the John Gorton Building had a dangerous crumbling facade, a member of the public alleged the library was secretly suffering from ''marble cancer''.
The library's assistant director-general (corporate services division) Gerry Linehan said there was no structural problem with the marble.
''What we understand people might mean by marble cancer is discolouration but it doesn't affect the substance of the structure of it,'' he said.
Mr Linehan said regular assessments were made of the building, the last one in 2012 giving the all-clear to the marble on the balcony panels and pillar columns.
He said the report did suggest the marble fascia panels would eventually have to be replaced or upgraded, because the ''glue'' securing them had shown signs of deterioration and the marble was showing ''some movement'' including some slight bowing.
However, he said there was no safety issue as yet and there was no risk of any panels falling down, the report only highlighting that work would have to be done in the future.
''We may replace the panels or we may resecure them, possibly the latter,'' he said.
