Venomous spiders force temporary closure of University of Michigan library By Sophie Lewis Nature: Spiders The University of Michigan's campus library recently closed its doors — not because of the coronavirus pandemic, but because of the threat of venomous spiders. University officials recently discovered Mediterranean recluse spiders in the basements and remote areas of "several" buildings on its Ann Arbor campus. Cousins to the more well-known brown recluse, they were found during routine building checks. "Pest Management is treating the areas in the building where the spiders were found," university spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen told CBS News on Wednesday. The spiders were found in the basement area of Shapiro Library, not in any public spaces. The library closed for two days as a result.