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Bedbug sweep still under way at Shawnee library branch; reopening delayed to next week

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Shawnee Library
The Shawnee branch will remain closed until sometime next week, officials said Tuesday.

Johnson County Library is continuing the treatment process for bedbugs at its Shawnee branch, and re-opening has been postponed.

Christopher Leitch, community relations coordinator for Johnson County Library, said in an email Tuesday morning that the postponement is caused by delayed delivery of special equipment for the eradication process. Library staff expect to give the all-clear by the beginning of next week. The library had initially hoped to reopen the Shawnee branch for normal hours Wednesday.

“The safety of patrons and the collection are paramount, and the library is prepared to keep the branch closed as long as necessary to correct the problem,” Leitch wrote. “We apologize deeply for any inconvenience caused by this closure.”

The eradication process involves fumigation, sealing and heating of infected materials, and deep cleaning. Additionally, the Johnson County Library is also taking extra precautions by inspecting all of its branches and providing system-wide training.

Library staff advise patrons to seal any materials from Shawnee Library in a plastic bag and return them to any library location. Patrons with books on hold at Shawnee Library must wait until it reopens.

Here are some tips on checking your home for bedbugs.

About the author

Leah Wankum
Leah Wankum

Hi there! I’m Leah Wankum, and I’m the Post’s Deputy Editor. I’m thrilled to call Johnson County home, and I’m deeply committed to the Post’s philosophy that an informed community is a strong community.

I’m a native of mid-Missouri, and attended high school in Jefferson City before going on to the University of Central Missouri, where I earned a master’s degree in mass communication.

Prior to joining the Post as a reporter in 2018, I was the editor of the Richmond News in Ray County, Missouri. I’ve also written for several publications, including the Sedalia Democrat and KC Magazine.

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