Vernon Area Library leads in indoor air quality management

As wildfire smoke drifts across the Midwest, bringing hazy skies and elevated health risks, visitors to the Vernon Area Public Library can breathe easy thanks to comprehensive air quality management systems that place the library among the nation’s leaders in indoor environmental health.

The Lincolnshire-based library has operated under a comprehensive Building Readiness and Indoor Air Quality Management Plan since 2023. It was among the first public libraries nationwide to implement such protocols, which are more typically seen in public schools and similar institutions.

“Air quality is something that a lot of people don’t actively think about, but it affects everyone profoundly,” said Stephen Territo, head of library operations.

Strategies in use at the library include:

• MERV-13 filters that capture particles such as those found in wildfire smoke

• HEPA purifiers in study rooms, program areas and staff spaces

• UV-C sanitizers that eliminate airborne germs and mold spores

• Real-time air quality monitoring

During air quality emergencies such as the current wildfire smoke event, the library activates “Risk Management Mode”: reducing outside air intake, moving outdoor programs inside and postponing exterior maintenance projects.

The comprehensive plan, developed using guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Public Health and ASHRAE, establishes air quality standards for the library that exceed federal and state requirements.

Library Director Anne Rasmussen said the plan reflects the library’s commitment to health equity and universal access. Recent studies show Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, making indoor air quality a critical but often overlooked public health issue, particularly for sensitive groups including young children, older adults and people with respiratory concerns.

“Public libraries are for everyone,” Rasmussen said. “Some people have no choice but to pay a lot of attention to air quality, due to asthma or other health conditions. We want our community to know they can enjoy their library without compromising their health.”

Library officials hope their approach serves as a model for how public spaces can adapt to growing challenges from climate-related air pollution.