ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Royal Oak Public Library closed over the weekend after bugs were found in a returned DVD case.
"Bugs entered the library in items in our book drop," the library posted to Instagram.
Staff tells 7 News Detroit that they brought items in from the book drop, opened up a DVD case, and bugs came out. Those bugs turned out to be cockroaches, according to library director Sandy Irwin.
"They just kind of came out. So I don't know exactly where they scattered off to," said Irwin.
The situation closed down the library. It was announced on social media Saturday with, at first, no reopening date in sight.
"Not being able to identify what those bugs were, they immediately bagged everything up that was with that DVD, all those items and the book bin that it was in and brought that outside to our garage space. They brought the bags in here along with the bin, and everything was stored right over here," said Irwin.
Regulars we spoke with were initially concerned.
"I've come here, used the library for decades, and nothing has ever happened like that," said Rio Scafone.
Another regular, Sean Harris, said, "It seemed to me like that might be a highly suspicious event."
That's until we told them pest control gave the library the all clear after not finding any bugs or signs of infestation.
"This is what I was waiting for to hear the professionals come out, identify what it was. We know what it is. They'll take care of it. I'm not worried myself. I'm not," said Scafone.
Doors opened back up 1 p.m. Monday.
"I don't have any concerns about the library itself," said Harris.
Irwin tells us nothing like this has ever happened in any library where she's worked.
"But it does happen in libraries across the country. Libraries get training about 'what do you do when bedbugs come in?'" said Irwin.
As for the person who dropped off this bug-filled DVD, Irwin says through library records, they know who it is and they'll be contacting them. Police tell us they're not investigating this incident, since it doesn't appear to be intentional.
"I think that maybe somebody has an unfortunate home situation and those bugs got in that DVD and they came back to us," she said.
The library director tells us they've had traps all over the library, and that's how they plan on staying on top of it.
