Five days after sudden closure of Sebastopol Regional Library, officials confirm mold discovered in walls

Peeling wallpaper in the teen area and staff room of the Sebastopol Regional Library was the first indication that something was wrong.

On Thursday, June 4, library officials abruptly shut down the branch after staff identified potential mold behind that wallpaper. On Friday, inspectors conducted additional testing, confirming elevated mold spore levels within the affected wall cavities of both the teen area and staff room, according to a joint statement from the city and library released Tuesday afternoon, June 9.

"There is no indication of airborne elevated mold spore levels anywhere in the library prior to the walls being opened," the statement said.

Library and city officials have previously said there were "no indications that patrons or staff of the Sebastopol Library have been exposed to unsafe conditions."

Remediation specialists will continue to assess the extent of the mold outbreak within the walls and work to pinpoint the source of moisture that led to the growth in the first place. City and library staff said in the statement they will be looking at other walls to check whether other areas of the building have been affected.

It is unclear what type of mold was found within the walls. Interview requests and questions sent via text message seeking more information to Petula Burks, Sonoma County Library's communications director, were not returned.

There is no reopening date for the library, according to the press release.

"The health and safety of our patrons and staff remains our highest priority," Erika Thibault, Sonoma County Library Director, said in the prepared statement. "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 statement - released five days after the branch was abruptly closed - was the first detailed information provided by city and library officials on the cause and potential duration of closure.

Neither Thibault nor Sebastopol City Manager Mary Gourley were available for interviews. Thibault responded to a Tuesday morning request in the afternoon, saying she was in a meeting and could send a statement. Gourley told The Press Democrat she was scheduled for meetings until 3 p.m. Tuesday.

"The City is committed to fully understanding the extent of the issue and addressing any conditions that may be present within the building," Gourley said in the statement. "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."

The joint statement also came after criticism from Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who questioned the library's lack of transparency.

"Saying up front that it was a concern about possible mold, and that they were conducting analysis and testing would have made sense," Hopkins told The Press Democrat Monday in a text message. "Otherwise you might find yourself wondering - were my children exposed to a gas leak? To some harmful substance that was mailed to or left at the library?"

Sebastopol and west Sonoma County residents have called out the library's handling of the closure.

"I don't know who decided to handle it like this," said Linda Anderson, a Santa Rosa resident who meets weekly in Sebastopol with her friend Cathy Cutler. "But it really has a mountain out of a molehill of the issue. Bottom line is … people don't want to be left in the dark."

Cutler, who lives in Forestville, said she was taken aback by the closure, but also recognized that many buildings in west Sonoma County are susceptible to mold.

"It's an old building and things happen," Cutler said. "But the library - it is such a hub for the community."

Other Sebastopol residents expressed greater concern.

"Mold in libraries is a serious health risk for workers and patrons, especially for immunocompromised individuals," said Crista Mason, a Sebastopol resident with three children. "I'm glad the library is taking the situation seriously."

The closure comes at a time when many Sebastopol families kicked off summer break and were gearing up for the library's annual summer reading program.

"I'm disappointed by the timing," Nora Pelot, a mother of two said. "I really enjoyed the reading program last year and I was hoping to do it again this year."

Pelot, who lives just outside Sebastopol city limits, knows the summer reading program occurs throughout the library system, but said she's unlikely to drive to other libraries "on a regular basis."

"Also, when everything is so expensive, it's nice to have a place in town that has fun activities in town for kids and is completely free," she said.

Sebastopol resident Katie Fedeli said her family had planned on participating in the summer reading program at the Sebastopol branch.

"I'm extremely frustrated," she said, adding that she goes to her local branch "all summer long to escape the heat and pass time."

The building is owned by the city. The library is one of 15 branches in the county library system.

The building, originally constructed in 1975, was last renovated in 2012. The $649,000 project included installing new shelves with seismic bracing, adding staff work stations with better ergonomics and more computers for the public, improving access for the disabled and adding improved lighting and new rugs.

Staff Writer Anna Armstrong contributed to this report.

Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 6:35 PM.