The Van Buren District Library has temporarily closed its Covert branch after reports of an intermittent, off-putting odor that staff have been unable to trace.
Executive Director Dan Hutchins said the smell — described as musty or stale — has been noticed on and off since mid-June, but in recent weeks it has been occurring more often.
“We don’t believe it’s a health hazard,” Hutchins said, “but we don’t want to invite the public into a smelly place. People come to the library as a place of sanctuary, learning, and comfort, so we felt strongly that we should close until we can remediate it.”
The odor isn’t present most of the time, making it difficult to locate the source. Hutchins compared the investigation to “a ghost hunt.” The library has already brought in plumbing and HVAC specialists, but so far, no cause has been found. ServPro is scheduled to inspect the building next.
Until the issue is resolved, library patrons are encouraged to use one of the district’s six other branches. The Bangor branch, located about 10 miles from Covert, is the closest alternative.
“There will be no overdue fees for items borrowed from the Covert branch while it’s closed,” Hutchins said.
The Covert branch has been part of the county’s library system since the 1930s and has operated from its current building — owned by Covert Township and staffed by the district — since 2010.
No timeline has been set for reopening.
For updates and information on other branch locations, visit vbdl.org.
