Dear Community Members,
We are working closely with local disaster specialists and the City of Kimberley to address the situation as quickly and safely as possible. This is a complicated issue with many unknowns, and in the interest of everyone’s safety, we will remain closed for now as we work through the mitigation process.
Here are some important things we have learned:
- Safety features on a can of bear spray are not foolproof, and accidents can happen.
- The heat of bear spray is approximately 500 to 1,000 times stronger than a jalapeño pepper.
- Bear spray can shoot up to 10.5 meters and creates an airborne fog that will eventually settle onto any nearby surfaces.
- The HVAC system can greatly increase the affected area.
- Testing for settled bear spray on nearby surfaces is difficult.
- Bear spray can be difficult to detect until it has made direct contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.
As of today (Monday the 28th) we are trying to answer the following questions:
- How far did the bear spray travel?
- What areas of the library are affected?
- How can we tell?
- How can we make sure it’s safe for patrons and staff to handle the books?
Once we have answers to these questions we will be able to make a plan to move forward.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through this challenging time. We will keep you updated on our progress and let you know as soon as it is safe to reopen.
Thank you for your continued support.