Over the last few years, the Grand Rapids, Mich., metro area has seen a rise in bedbug infestations. The challenge is that heat tents, which are commonly used to heat treat library materials that have potentially come in contact with bedbugs, are not energy efficient, are not easy to load and do not maintain a stable air temperature. As a result, the library sought alternative options for the treatment of items. With the advent of COVID-19, there was also the possibility of heat eliminating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The library partnered with Andy Egan, local mechanical contractor, to build a prototype oven. The oven is 6' x 8' and is composed of eight heaters, two blowers that circulate air, a ramp for easy loading and an auto shutoff. Within three hours the oven maintains an internal air temperature of 145°F with two carts of materials heated to a core temperature of 135°F. This allows the oven to reach the 122°F threshold for bedbugs and potentially eliminate SARS-CoV-2, which research shows is impacted by heat above 133°F.

The heat treatment oven has allowed the library to heat treat all items coming in through the drops at its Main Branch since March 2020 (almost 25,000 items). Initially, materials were treated for two hours, ensuring material core temperature reached 122°F in order to kill bedbugs. When research emerged that heat could be used to kill COVID-19, the library increased treatment time to three hours so that materials reached 135°F in order to also potentially kill SARS-CoV-2, thus reducing risk for both staff and patrons.