Bed bug sniffing dogs arrive at library

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTNH) -- The Russell Library in Middletown is closed as workers try to  wipe out a bed bug problem.

The library was closed on Wednesday after the discovery of the bugs.

"Bed bugs in the library is kinda weird," said Victoria Johnson, "they're books."

One after another, finding out its now the building being checked out.

"I think it's crazy, bedbugs in a library," said Ester Koch, "I never heard of such a thing."

A bed bug was discovered in a DVD case and another area in the adult section prompting the city to close the main branch and ask folks to return items in plastic bags so materials can be examined.

"I'm just trying to make sure we get them out of the house as soon as possible I guess," said Joe Lechowicz.

News 8 wanted to know what the city is going to do about this problem.

Wednesday night dogs trained to detect the presence of bed bugs were brought in to sniff the whole building, and depending on the number of hits, will determine if the exterminator uses extreme heat or chemicals to address the problem.

When News 8 returned Wednesday night, we found Elie and her handler, Christie Masterberti, headed into the main branch of Russell Library to sniff out the bed bugs.

"We work left to right, she is always on my left side and I go around and she checks everything, furniture and books, and when she picks up on a scent she scratches," said Masterberti, "and that is her alert to me and that is how I know there is something there."

"I'm really hoping that it is contained to the two areas which we already know about, said Mayor Daniel Drew, "in the computers in the adult section and the DVD's in the adult library section."

"Masterberti said once she goes inside the library it will take two to three hours to determine just where the hot zones are for the bed bugs. She says once she has determined that, they can go through two courses of treatment, either chemical or heat, and in this case, heat might be the most effective.

"We are going to section off a section and heat it up to 125 degrees for a number of hours, or we are going to actually take the items out and put them in a truck that is heated up to 125 degrees for a number of hours," said Masterberti, "and that will kill everything instantly."

And while the Mayor is moving as fast as he can, it will take a while to clear the library of the bed bugs. There is no firm time on when it will re-open, so in the meantime people are asked to isolate any materials they have checked out in a zip-lock bag and return them in the drop slot.

"It's very creepy actually, I hear they are hard to get rid of," said Paola Maina. "Hopefully they are not on my clothes. I kept my purse on me and did not sit on the ground, so hopefully I am free and clear."

The Connecticut Library Association says this is not common in our state, but in summer folks do travel with borrowed books.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says bed bugs usually occur in public places, close to a heat source such as a person's body, not necessarily in the pages of a book.

To learn more about bed bugs visit the CDC's website .