ROYAL OAK – The Royal Oak Public Library is temporarily closed to the public after a recent monthly inspection revealed a bedbug infestation inside the building.
Bedbugs are small, flat insects that feed on the blood of animals and humans, typically at night. Despite their name, bedbugs can be found in any crack or crevice they could hide in, from chair cushions, mattresses and sofas to along baseboards or behind electrical outlets.
In a social media post shared on Tuesday, library staff shared that the bugs were found in the seating areas — specifically referencing the lounge chairs and computer lab on the library’s main floor.
Several residents commented on the post with concerns over what to do with books and other media that have been borrowed from the library in recent weeks.
“We did not find any in the processing areas,” a spokesperson for the library replied, also suggesting that residents flip through any books sourced from the library out of extra caution.
In 2024, library staff found a cockroach inside a DVD case that was returned, prompting a similar temporary closure. Around the same time, a bedbug contamination at the Oak Park Public Library prompted a brief closure.
Library staff also shared the following tips to help residents identify possible signs of contamination in borrowed books, and what to do if they’re concerned:
If you see:
- Tiny blood stains on pages or covers
- Brown or black fecal spots
- Eggs or shed skins
- Bedbug bites (small and itchy)
You can:
- Put your items in a sealed plastic bag and expose them to extreme heat for several hours (consider putting a black bag out in the hot sun)
- Place them in a sealed bag and put them in the freezer for 72 hours
The library will remain closed until the situation is resolved, according to staff.
For more tips and information about bedbugs, including signs and symptoms, visit michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/home/bed-bugs.