A second library has closed in Palo Alto following the discovery of bedbugs there. It is the second bedbug-related closure in Palo Alto, and the third in the Bay Area, in the past week.
The Rinconada branch library on Newell Road closed on Tuesday so it could be debugged and disinfected of the infestation. According to the library’s Twitter account, the library will reopen Thursday morning:
During canine inspection of Rinconada Library on 9/29, bed bugs were identified in an area. Library will remain closed until 10/1 @ 10 am
— Palo Alto Library (@PaloAltoLibrary) September 29, 2015
The Mitchell Park Library was closed for three days and was reopened on Monday after two chairs were found to be infested with bedbugs. It will be reinspected next week.
#MitchellParkLibrary has reopened as of 2PM today http://t.co/mAZhBu2mgQ
— Palo Alto Library (@PaloAltoLibrary) September 27, 2015
The North Branch of the Berkeley Library also had a problem with bedbugs last week when it discovered them in at least three different locations there. It has reportedly also been reopened.
Bedbugs are parasitic insects that feed on human blood and can live almost anywhere. Their bites cause red bumps on the flesh and can result in itching. It is possible the bugs were transmitted to the library through the sharing of books from households that may have already had the bedbugs in them.
Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz and on Facebook.
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