Mold found in the walls of the staff room and teen area of the Sebastopol Library

The Sebastopol Library will remain closed as the investigations into the source and extent of the mold problem continue

The City of Sebastopol and the Sonoma County Library released a joint statement this afternoon about the ongoing mold investigation at the Sebastopol Library, which was closed suddenly last week on Thursday, June 4. After the closure, the city and library administration released a vaguely worded statement about “environmental concerns,” which they later revealed was a potential mold issue.

According to today’s statement, “staff identified peeling wallpaper and potential mold within wall areas of the Staff Room and Teen Area. On June 5, exploratory openings were made in select wall cavities where the peeling wallpaper had been observed. Environmental testing was conducted following the wall openings, which exposed mold within the wall cavities.”

The statement said, “There was no indication of airborne elevated mold spore levels anywhere in the library prior to walls being opened.” (We asked library representatives whether the air had been tested prior to opening the walls, but haven’t received a response yet.)

According to the statement, mold remediation specialists will be opening more walls “to determine whether similar conditions exist behind other wallpaper-covered exterior walls and whether other areas of the building have been affected.”

Remediation specialists are also looking into the source of the moisture that caused the mold in the first place.

“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. “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.”

Library Communications Director Petula Burks said that they don’t yet know what kind of mold is involved.

“At this time, we do not have information regarding the specific type of mold identified,” she said.

Burks said no one is currently working in the building, and library staff have been temporarily assigned to other locations during the closure.

Library administration officials are asking for patience.

“The health and safety of our patrons and staff remains our highest priority,” said Erika Thibault, Sonoma County Library Director. “We know the library is an important community resource, and we understand that many community members are eager for more information and answers. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work with the City to thoroughly assess the building and determine the safest path toward reopening.”

The library will remain closed while these investigations are being conducted and any necessary remediation is completed.

At this time, no reopening date has been established.

While the Sebastopol Library is closed, holds are being transferred to the Forestville Community Library at 7050 Covey Road, on the El Molino High School campus, which has extended summer hours:

• Monday-Friday: 11 am to 7 pm

• Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm

• Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm

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