Royal Oak book lovers showed up for a quiet day of reading and instead found “closed” signs on the doors. The Royal Oak Public Library has temporarily shut down after bed bugs were discovered inside, with notices on the building blaming a bed bug infestation for the sudden closure.
CBS News Detroit reported the shutdown today, after visitors arrived to find the signs taped up outside. The station noted that officials have not provided a reopening date or said how long the building might remain closed.
Bed Bugs Reportedly Confined To Public Seating Areas
According to the Detroit Free Press, the bed bugs turned up in the computer lab and the adult seating area. Two trained dogs were brought in to sweep the building, and no bugs were found in any of the library’s books. Library officials are now weighing whether they need to change rules about what patrons are allowed to bring into the facility.
It is not the first unsettling pest story for Royal Oak’s library. In 2024, the building temporarily closed after insects were seen emerging from a returned DVD case. Pest-control workers later identified the bugs as cockroaches and found no broader infestation, according to 7 News Detroit, in an incident also covered as an unusual bug infestation in a returned DVD, as per Hoodline.
Metro Detroit Libraries Battle Familiar Pest Problems
The latest bed bug discovery at Royal Oak echoes a similar 2024 incident at the nearby Oak Park Public Library. There, bed bugs were found in two upholstered chairs in a computer area. FOX 2 Detroit reported that the Oak Park building was closed for cleaning and inspection after pest-control experts confirmed the insects in the chairs.
For now, Royal Oak patrons are being told to check the Royal Oak Public Library website for updates on reopening, along with any changes to programs, services, or return procedures. The library is located at 222 E. Eleven Mile Road.
