The Sacramento State University Library will be closing for the summer on Friday, May 20 for asbestos removal. According to Library Dean Amy Kautzman, the asbestos is being removed to prepare for future remodeling efforts in the library.

“We’re removing this material so that we can do work that will help us to improve the building,” Kautzman said. “We can’t bring in more electrical, we can’t change the lighting, we can’t do anything until we can freely work with the building.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure only occurs when materials containing asbestos are damaged or disturbed by construction, releasing asbestos particles into the air.

“This is not a safety issue. There are no safety concerns,” Kautzman said. “We need more electrical outlets. If we can’t run wires, we can’t put in more outlets. It comes down to prepping the building so in the future we can be more student-focused and help improve services.”

Kautzman said the goal is to have the library reopened on August 1.

This article will be updated with new information as it becomes available.