Wake County library closed for weeks after staff report fumes during roof replacement

A library in Wake County is closed until early November after an onset of physical symptoms amongst library staff was connected to an ongoing roof replacement project. 

According to Wake County Library Workers United (LWU), staff at Southeast Regional Library began reporting symptoms including burning eyes, brain fog, and dizziness in late September after noticing fumes they believed were related to construction materials used in the roofing project. The workers group described unsafe working conditions. 

LWU did not immediately respond to WRAL's request for comment. 

In an online post, LWU wrote that administrators "failed to plan adequate safety measures during this construction project" and alleged that the county did not properly address the concerns over possible health impacts reported by the library staff. 

According to the workers group’s post, library staff made the call to evacuate the building on Thursday, Oct. 1, as families began arriving for Toddler Storytime. 

The four-week closure was announced on Oct. 5, leaving some visitors surprised by the locked entrance and signs notifying them of the closed doors. 

"Because I come here frequently, I didn't realize anything was going on or coming down," visitor Bobbie Barnes said. 

In a Facebook post, the Wake County Public Libraries attributed the closure to ongoing roof replacement work. 

In an email to WRAL, a county spokesperson wrote that the General Services Administration (GSA) received a report of fumes at the library on Sep. 28 and conducted a site visit the same day, where the GSA adjusted air handling equipment to help mitigate the fumes, but – the spokesperson said – “after multiple site visits by County staff, there was no clear determination of the source of the fumes." 

The spokesperson said that after receiving a second report of fumes at the library, a safety coordinator visited but was unable to detect a smell. “Additional precautions were taken to ensure staff comfort by adjusting ventilation, conducting air purges, deploying fans and suspending operations between Oct. 1 and 5," the statement said. 

The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the project, according to county documents, in April for over $500,000. The library is set to reopen on Nov. 2.