LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood branch of the Ocean County Library system has been closed after staff discovered bed bugs in a book drop-off at the library. Officials closed the branch at 1 pm on Wednesday after the infestation was discovered.
The library was scheduled to be closed through Thursday, but library officials announced the shutdown will continue until at least after Friday.
“The Ocean County Library Lakewood Branch will close at 1 PM Wednesday, July 27, and will be closed Thursday,” the Library said on Wednesday.
Today, that message was updated to read, “The Lakewood Branch will remain closed Friday, July 29.”
No reopening date has been provided by the library.
According to the EPA, “Bed bugs are a public health pest. While bed bugs have not been shown to transmit disease, they do cause a variety of negative physical health, mental health and economic consequences. Some of these effects include: Allergic reactions to their bites, which can be severe.”