Englewood City Library Board addresses bed bug incident, cancels June meeting and schedules strategic-plan workshop

Library Director Rachel Fiel told the Englewood City Library Board that the library briefly closed after staff found a single bed bug and that a contracted pest-control firm treated the building.

“This did not even rise to the level of an infestation, so very pleased that we had our colleagues in other city departments jump on it and begin to support us very quickly,” Library Director Rachel Fiel said. She said Orkin treated the library the evening before the closure, the branch reopened on Monday and Orkin would return for follow-up inspection.

The board approved its previous meeting minutes by voice vote. During new business a board member moved and another seconded to cancel the board’s June meeting because it falls on the Juneteenth holiday; the motion passed by voice vote. Board members asked staff to schedule a separate strategic-plan workshop — not necessarily at a regular board meeting — and staff said they would send a poll to find a date and post the meeting with at least 24 hours’ notice.

Why it matters: the bed bug finding prompted an immediate public-service response and a short closure; the board’s decision to cancel the June meeting and hold a separate workshop affects public engagement timing for the library’s strategic plan rollout and any budget requests tied to that planning period.

In the staff report, Fiel said the pest-control treatment used a water‑soluble spray with borax and that the treatment active period covers 21 days. She reported no further signs of bed bugs since reopening and said the single specimen was found on the public-service desk. “We have not seen another sign of a bed bug since we reopened on Monday,” Fiel said.

Fiel also outlined staffing changes and upcoming programs. The board learned that Kirsten Hennigan will join the library as an adult services supervisor in July. Two new adult-services associates recently started, one new circulation hire is scheduled to begin soon, and one recently hired adult-services associate resigned before the position settled. Summer reading begins May 27, Fiel said, and the volunteer program is “doing much better this year.”

The board discussed recent outreach and planning work. Fiel and staff attended a large South Broadway community meeting about a neighborhood revitalization plan that included questions about a possible library pop‑up or outpost; she said roughly 100 people attended and provided feedback on meeting-room and technology needs. The library plans to participate in the city’s “touch a truck” outreach event and staff will staff a city-council booth at the Silver Eaglewood event.

Board members renewed discussion about creating a Friends of the Library nonprofit. A board member with prior experience at another library district offered to help draft incorporation paperwork and bylaws; the board said it will follow up with the city attorney’s office about potential conflicts and whether staff or interns can assist with document review.

School liaison Devon Williams reported that Englewood Leadership Academy will sunset within the next year and merge with Englewood Middle School; a task force on school culture will form and more information is expected by the board’s August meeting. Williams also gave graduation times and said three board seats will be up for election in November, and the board will hold a candidate-interest session before the next meeting.

The meeting concluded with a brief facilities note: a board member asked about a dirt area near the entrance, and staff said public-works is reviewing options to clean up or landscape that space.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of previous meeting minutes — motion passed by voice vote (mover and seconder not named in the record). - Cancellation of June board meeting (falls on Juneteenth) — motion passed by voice vote (mover and seconder not named in the record).