Second Palo Alto Library Invaded By Bedbugs
PALO ALTO (KPIX 5) -- Bedbugs have invaded a second public library in Palo Alto prompting the city to inspect all of its libraries.
The doors were unlocked Thursday morning at Palo Alto's Rinconda library branch after a two day closure due to the discovery of bedbugs.
Palo Alto has been inspecting all of its libraries with special bedbug sniffing dogs since being notified of a possible problem last week.
"A customer told us that they found or saw some on a chair," said Assistant Library Director Eric Howard. "They informed staff and the staff informed me and we talked to the city and decided to close the library that day just to be safe."
Tom Lutz was the first through the door at Rinconda Thursday. He says he did not initially know why the library had been closed.
Last week Palo Alto closed its Mitchell Park library branch where the bedbugs were first discovered.
A pest control company treated the furniture and surrounding surfaces over the weekend, including over at Rinconda.
Howard says there's no way to know for sure how the bedbugs got into the libraries in the first place, but there are some theories.
"Since we found it on the furniture on a chair, it likely was brought in by someone who is just sitting in that same seat all day long," Howard said. "And that's probably how it transferred."
On Friday the city of Palo Alto will close its main downtown library and bring in bedbug sniffing dogs to complete its inspection of all the city's libraries.
