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photo credit: Courtesy of Force Support ServicesThe public library in Sebastopol.
The Sebastopol Regional Library will remain closed after its abrupt closure and environmental investigation last week revealed mold within wall cavities.
The city of Sebastopol and Sonoma County Library released a joint statement Tuesday providing an update on the environmental investigation.The release said testing was conducted on peeling wallpaper in the staff room and teen area that exposed mold. The mold spores affected wall cavities but was "not airborne in the library's common areas," according to the city and library.
Sonoma County Library spokesperson Petula Burks said Friday that the Sebastopol library would close indefinitely due to a potential environmental hazard. Another library administrator had already said there were concerns Thursday with mold and wallpaper peeling, which was confirmed Tuesday.
The city of Sebastopol's cleaning contractor Servpro has established containment measures in the library and installed air scrubbers, while remediation specialists continue investigating the source of the moisture and other potentially affected areas.
"The city is committed to fully understanding the extent of the issue and addressing any conditions that may be present within the building," said Sebastopol City Manager Mary Gourley in a news release. "While initial testing indicates the elevated mold levels are localized to the areas that have been opened, additional investigation is necessary to ensure we have a complete picture before moving forward with repairs."
All books on hold at the Sebastopol library have been relocated to the Forestville Community Library, which will have extended summer hours to account for the closure.
The city of Sebastopol and Sonoma County Library said a reopening date has yet to be decided as the offices continue to develop a timeline for remediation.
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