The Brandon Regional Library announced Tuesday that it would be closed due to emergency maintenance and that all programs are cancelled and holds will be extended.
Apparently, the temporary 3-day closure is due to the presence of an unwelcome guest–bed bugs.
According to a Tampabay.com report, employees discovered the bed bugs while sorting through recently-returned books.
The county is bringing in a pest control company to inspect and treat the 25,000-square foot building, officials said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.
Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep.
The branch at 619 Vonderburg Drive is expected to reopen Friday.
