Mold discovery closes Setauket's Emma S. Clark Memorial Library for more than a week

A Setauket library has been closed for more than a week while its heating and ventilation system is cleaned following the discovery of mold, library officials said this week.

The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library will remain closed indefinitely, officials said on the library's website.

The library closed May 1 "for emergency HVAC inspection/maintenance" after staff reported smelling "a musty odor," the website message said. 

Testing found a common household mold, cladosporium, the website message said.

"We are now aggressively remediating the condition and replacing ductwork and HVAC components as necessary," the message said. "Under these circumstances and in an abundance of caution, the library will remain closed until further notice."

Library officials did not respond to requests for comment.

A large sign on one of the library's glass doors Friday said "the library is temporarily closed" and explained why. “Please check our website — emmaclark.org — and social media for updates,” it said.

Cladosporium does not cause diseases in humans but can cause eye and ear infections, skin problems and sinus infections, according to the Medical News Today website.

Humans respond differently to exposure to cladosporium, the website says. Other symptoms include sneezing, dry skin, hives, itchy throat and eyes, coughing, stuffy or runny nose and postnasal drip, the website says.

Suffolk County Department of Health Services spokesperson Grace Kelly-McGovern said the agency is not involved in the cleanup.

"Mold remediation does not come under the purview of the department," she said in an email.

Mold occurs not infrequently in Long Island buildings.

The Coliseum Motor Inn in East Meadow closed in 2023 due to structural damage and mold, Newsday previously reported. A federal housing inspection in 2022 found some buildings at a Franklin Square public housing complex had mold issues. 

In Glen Cove, prekindergarten classes at an elementary school were canceled and then moved online after mold was discovered in the walls of a classroom in 2021, Newsday reported.

George Hoffman, a Setauket civic leader, said he learned of the Clark library's closure when he went there last Saturday to return a book.

Hoffman, an "avid reader," found the closing “very surprising" and said he has been frustrated by what he said was a lack of information from library officials.

"I think they could have done a better job telling people how long they expect to be closed and when they expect to open," he said.

Hoffman said he goes there frequently to read and drink coffee.

“It’s a very popular resource. A lot of people use it," Hoffman said. "It's got a really good coffee shop. You can get a cup of coffee and read a book. It’s a really important part of the community.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.