New Saskatoon task force to battle bedbugs in libraries

People working for the City of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan and the public library have started a new task force with the sole mission of stopping bedbugs from invading libraries.

The critters have already been found at some public libraries in Saskatoon.

Bedbugs can make their way into the library when books are returned.

Anne-Marie Mathieu, who's part of the new task force, said the stakes are high.

"The collection [of books] I guess would be at risk if we had a major infestation," she said. "Reputation to the library, we want people to be comfortable when they come here to know that we are bedbug free and are doing our best to keep it that way."

The group has installed bedbug traps and is working on protocols to get the bugs out quickly.

Libraries in places like Vancouver are also battling to get rid of bedbugs.