Bed Bugs Are Cause for Closing the Hastings-on-Hudson Public Library By SUE FEIR and JOANNA RIESMAN

We are writing to explain the unexpected closure of the Library. An alert patron indicated late Tuesday that there may be bed bugs in the Library. We quickly closed the Library in order to evaluate the situation.  

For the past two days, while we have been dealing with the issue, we have kept the Library closed.  Although inconvenient for many Hastings residents, we thought this the most prudent course of action. 

Following a full inspection of the building by a specially trained dog, as well as consultations with pest-control experts, we have determined that we have a localized bed bug problem, one that is limited to certain pieces of furniture in specific parts of the Library. We have an effective and non-chemical solution, which unfortunately cannot be implemented before Monday, September 10. Here are the details:

What Parts of the Library are Free of Bed Bugs:  The entire Children's Section, the entire downstairs, the Circulation Desk, the staff office, the director's office, and the book sale room have NO bed bugs. 

What Parts of the Library Do or May Have Bed Bugs:  The inspection revealed that several chairs in the Computer Area, in the seating area near the entrance, in the glassed-in Conference Room on the North side of the building, and at the tables on the North side have insects. In addition, the Reference Desk may also have bed bugs.

What We Plan to Do:   On Monday, a crew from Bliss Pest Protection Services will arrive at the Library. They will remove the furniture that was determined to have bed bugs, as well as furniture in the same vicinity, and then place these items in a mobile heating unit. The furniture will be heated, the most effective means of killing live insects as well as pulverizing their eggs. While this is being done, workers will use a HEPA vacuum and steam cleaner within the building.  Please note that in an abundance of caution we are treating furniture that has not been determined to have bed bugs, as well as cleaning the carpeting and fixed furniture in affected areas. Research indicates that the method we have chosen is both very effective and does not introduce any toxins into the Library. 

When Will the Library be Open:  Because the Circulation Desk area is clean, we have decided to open the Library Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for limited periods of time and for limited purposes, as follows:

Thursday, 9/6: CLOSED

Friday, 9/7: The Circulation Desk ONLY will be open from 12-5pm. Patrons can return books, check out books that are on hold or renew books. 

Saturday, 9/8: The Circulation Desk ONLY will be open from 8:30 to 2pm. In addition, the Friends' Book Sale WILL take place on the plaza outside the Library. 

Sunday, 9/9: The Library will be open ONLY for the Talking Pictures event, a screening of We Need to Talk About Kevin, at 3pm. Please use the downstairs entrance. 

Monday, 9/10: CLOSED

Tuesday, 9/11: Open regular hours, 9:30am to 8:30pm

Obviously, this is not a pleasant situation.  We believe, however, that we have taken the steps necessary to eliminate the problem in a way that will keep our community safe. 

Sue Feir is Hastings’ Library Director and Joanna Riesman is president of the  Library Board of Trustees.

Comments

[hippies suck]

here's my take on this... Hastings is full of hippies, hippies are filthy dirty people. Bed Bugs are drawn to filthy dirty people and the places that they congregate so the library in a hippie enclave such as hastings is the perfect place for an infestation

[A Neighboring Librarian]

'Hippies'?? When was the last time I heard that word? You are frozen in amber, they can make dinosaurs with your DNA.

[hippies suck]

your response is dumb and at no time do you dispute the fact that " hippies" are filthy dirty people and that it is no suprise that they are in a library that is frequented by them.

[A Neighboring Librarian]

You are now my favorite troll, Maynard G Krebbs is laughing in his grave.

[LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY]

wow...you are even more of a dinosaur than "hippies suck" ...Maynard G. Krebbs? Hope no one uses the word WORK around you lest you get the chills as Maynard did when that word was mentioned.

Moreover, what is the new urban dictionary definition of hippies, since you are so with it? Has the word even been replaced when referencing those who lived that lifestyle? Do you even know the answer to this?

Perhaps you should go to a library which doesn't have bedbugs and do some research. In the meantime, Hastings has become a dirty community, which point was at the heart of the posting which you mocked, totally disregarding that important issue.

[Whitney Williams]

Thank you for posting this! These bugs are getting annoying and we have tired several things to get rid of them and stop this nonsense! Do you know of any good places that deal with bed bugs in Calgary?

[Jared Winterton]

Do we have any estimates for when the library will be reopened? I've had some encounters before with some bed bugs in a hotel in calgary. It was horrendous - so I can totally understand them closing down the library.