Ealing Library abruptly was forced to close early on Monday (30 October) due to a bed bug infestation.
A spokesperson from the Ealing Council confirmed that vigilant staff members had spotted the unwelcome intruders within the library premises, prompting the immediate closure.
“The council is actively addressing this issue with professional pest control solutions,” stated the spokesperson. “The treatments will be administered during the library’s closure, and the chemicals used are safe for individuals of all ages.”
The decision to close the library temporarily was made in response to concerns voiced by both library users and staff, even though technical advice indicated that it was safe to reopen after the infestation had been treated.
A council spokesperson said: “Ealing Library was closed on 30 October 2023 at 1.30pm as staff noticed pests (bed bugs) in the library. It is anticipated that the library will reopen on Thursday 2 November and normal service will resume.
“The council is actively addressing this issue with professional pest control solutions. These treatments will be administered during the library’s closure and the chemicals used are safe for individuals of all ages.
“The technical advice was that it was safe for both the public and staff to re-open the library – both in terms of controlling and preventing the spread of the infestation and in relation to the chemicals used to treat furniture.
“However, the council recognised that library users and staff had concerns and decided that temporarily closing the library was the right course of action.
“The library is only being reopened after a full course of treatment has been applied by contractors Rentokill. The council will continue to monitor the situation and take preventative measures to ensure that the issue has been fully resolved, and that everything is being done to prevent its recurrence.
“We extend our apologies for any inconvenience this situation may cause and thank residents and library staff for their understanding.”
