

The news channel interviewed one woman who found several bed bugs between the pages of a book that she had checked-out from an LA library. Many LA residents have even reported checking out books only to later find bed bugs falling out of them. The news team obtained documents confirming this information. During the team’s investigation, it was found that LA libraries had dealt with more than eighty separate bed bug infestations at several different branches since 2014. Unfortunately, a news station based in Los Angeles has uncovered evidence indicating that library officials in LA have made numerous attempts to hide bed bug infestations from the public.Ī local news station based in Los Angeles investigated a string of crimes that were committed at several library branches in the LA area. Bed bugs have recently been reported in several Los Angeles libraries, but this is no big deal because bed bugs have been spotted in libraries all over America, right? While it is true that bed bugs are often spotted within libraries, most library systems don’t make efforts to hide their bed bug infestations from the public. You don’t need to watch the news or read the newspaper to know that bed bugs are a constant menace to humans. “Even if it’s just a bookworm,” said Diane Baker, the library’s business director.Numerous LA Residents Become Suspicious After Finding Bed Bugs In Library Books If anyone has suspicions a book may have been exposed, the library is asking that patron to notify staff. Certified professionals will know which chemicals are safe for children or animals,” he said. “The chemicals that kill the bugs are also harmful for humans. If bedbugs are detected, Boothe said, the best course of action is contacting a certified pest control specialist.
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Zip lock bags will also be available at the library front desk to put items in before returning.īoothe said bedbugs can exist in any type of environment across all socioeconomic statuses and are not known to carry any disease. Ideally, the items should be placed in a sealed zip locked bag. “We just want to make sure we’re protecting the rest of the community as well.”Īnyone who knows or suspects their books or other materials have been exposed to bedbugs is being asked to return the items to the front desk rather than in the book drop. “We still want those individuals to be able to access the library,” she said. While some libraries revoke the privileges of those who return affected books, Loyd said the Carson City Library won’t institute any penalties.
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We do not want to alarm the public, we just want to educate people to know what to look for and how to properly handle it.” “This is not isolated to our library,” she said. Loyd pointed out that libraries across the country face similar problems.

“They’re doing their due diligence in trying not to spread the problem.” “They’re working to be extra cautious,” Boothe said. “We want to make sure everything is clean before it goes back into the collection,” Loyd said.ĭustin Boothe, epidemiologist for Carson City Health and Human Services, said the library followed proper protocols. Book carts and bins were also given several disinfecting treatments. An additional 34 titles will remain quarantined and heat treated as a precaution. Carson City Health and Human Services and pest control services were called in, and all of the books in the same area were also placed in a black bags and removed.Īfter inspection, bugs were found on five items, which have been removed from the library, Loyd said.

The books were quarantined and removed from the library. The infected books were discovered by librarian Maria Klesta within 10 minutes of being dropped off on Tuesday, she said. “The situation was handled properly, and processes are in place to deal with situations that may arise in the future.” “First, we want to assure people there is no cause for concern,” said Sena Loyd, director of the Carson City Library. Library officials are implementing precautionary procedures after bedbugs were discovered in one patron’s books this week.
