A letter from CRDLs Library Director and Board of Trustees President:
Over the last few years, incidents of bed bug infestations have become a growing problem for all public buildings including hotels, schools, hospitals, libraries and any other building where the public frequents en masse. Because bed bugs can hide in items like jackets, backpacks and other soft materials, they can be brought into any location.
When the presence of pests such as bed bugs, fleas, or other insects have been reported, the library responds by cleaning/disinfecting the area, searching for evidence of bugs, and involving professional pest control if evidence of insects are found. For staff members working with the public daily, these are routine actions. When we were notified of an incident in our Veterans Memorial Library adult computer lab (January 13: a patron found a bug they believed to be bed bug on a computer station) we escalated our response.
We immediately took actions outlined in our trainings on managing bed bugs in libraries by isolating the space where we believed the issue originated. We reached out to a professional pest management company with requests for advice and the treatment they would recommend.
On Tuesday, January 13, we contacted a bed bug detection company to do a full inspection of the facility. They could not come that same day, but did arrive for an inspection on Tuesday, January 14. They did confirm the bug found in the computer lab was a bed bug and the lab was treated. The decision was made to also treat the entire library. The Veterans Memorial Library will be closed to the public through January 21 due to the treatment of bed bugs.
The library will be reevaluated after seven days to verify there are no signs of bed bugs after the initial treatment. The library is expected to reopen January 22.
Since Tuesday, we have worked together to take the steps to identify and resolve this situation. Unfortunately, bed bugs will remain an ongoing issue for all public spaces until science develops a way to eradicate them entirely.
How do I minimize my risk of exposure to bed bugs?
A library is not a conducive environment for bed bugs to thrive. They are typically brought in to a library on people, on clothing, in bags, etc. If patrons are concerned about materials, keep them sealed in a plastic zip-top bag when not in use and do not place books on or near beds or bedding. Visit www.epa.gov/bedbugs for comprehensive information about bed bugs.
What if I find evidence that my library materials are affected by bed bugs?
Immediately seal all library materials in a zip-top plastic bag. You may return the materials to the library sealed in zip-top bags and indicate upon return that you found evidence of bed bugs. Items will be treated and then evaluated. As we learn more about the ongoing situation at the library, and develop policies and procedures to improve prevention, we will share information and updates on our website crdl.org.
Sincerely,
Corey Friedrich
Library Director, CRDL
Ruth Helwig
Board of Trustees President