Athens-Clarke library closes after bed bugs found on chair

The Athens-Clarke Public Library on Baxter Street will be temporarily closed after officials found bed bugs inside the building.

The library said it found bed bugs on a chair located on the second floor Thursday and closed the building for visitors and staff safety.

“Someone spotted one, and our pest control vendor confirmed it. We’re working on a plan to solve the issue and hope to reopen soon. We will update when more information is available,” the library wrote in a Facebook post comment.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The library’s website lists that it will be closed through at least Sunday. Any changes will be posted on the website.

During the closure, the library will not charge for any overdue fines and holds will be extended. The library has postponed a book sale it planned for this weekend.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Deputies: Murder of mom found burned, naked after sending cryptic text was “deliberate and personal”

• Car break-in suspect shot by Cobb officer tried to escape by hiding in manhole, police say

• 2 dead after being ejected from Jeep during police chase on I-20, GSP says

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, bed bugs hide in a variety of places when they are not feeding and their size makes it easier to hide in small spots.

“Bed bugs can be hard to find and identify, given their small size and their habit of staying hidden. It helps to know what they look like, since the various life stages have different forms,” the agency says.

The EPA says if you think you see a bed bug in a public place, inform the building staff so they can take necessary steps.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]