Outside Tests Find E. Coli at Santa Monica Library; City Says It Will Review Findings

Outside laboratory tests have allegedly detected E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria on tables and keyboards at the Santa Monica Public Library, according to a report commissioned by the Santa Monica Coalition, prompting critics to renew claims that the facility functions more as a de facto shelter than a traditional library.

Fox 11 News reported that the tests found the bacteria on public surfaces. John Alle and the Santa Monica Coalition have linked the alleged results to ongoing complaints about drug use, loitering, and violations of library rules. They argue that the conditions reflect insufficient enforcement and sanitation in a building heavily used by unhoused individuals, and that the presence of fecal bacteria on high-touch surfaces underscores long-standing concerns about hygiene and public safety inside the library. They also note that homeless people watch porn and um, misbehave as they watch it. In the library with children present.

City officials stated that library staff follow extensive cleaning protocols and said they would review the findings. The city has not released its own test results, confirmed the outside laboratory's methods, or indicated whether the alleged levels of bacteria exceeded any public-health thresholds. No formal closure or public-health order related to the tests had been announced as of mid-October.

Homeless men in front of Santa Monica Public Library.

The report did not name the laboratory or provide details on sample collection, chain of custody, or bacterial concentrations. E. coli and fecal coliforms serve as indicators of fecal contamination; their detection on tables and keyboards can raise hygiene concerns, though the actual risk depends on the amount present, the strains involved, and the frequency of cleaning.

For years, patrons, nearby residents, and groups such as the Santa Monica Coalition have complained about safety, cleanliness, and the volume of unhoused people using the Main Library and its branches. Alle has previously described the facility as operating primarily as a daytime shelter, with limited enforcement of rules against sleeping, drug use, and other conduct. City staff have maintained that the library is open to all members of the public and that regular cleaning of restrooms, tables, and computer stations continues.

The alleged findings come as the city continues to implement its Realignment Plan, which includes measures aimed at conditions in public spaces and downtown. City officials have not said whether they will order independent testing, alter cleaning schedules, or share the outside results with the county health department. In comparable cases involving public buildings, agencies sometimes conduct their own swab tests and review cleaning logs while investigations proceed.

Alle and the Santa Monica Coalition said they intend to keep pressing for stricter cleaning standards and clearer behavioral rules. The city has not provided a timeline for completing its review of the alleged test results. The Main Library and its branches remain open under normal schedules. Patrons with concerns are being directed to library staff.