OWATONNA—A bomb threat that targeted the Owatonna Public Library was deemed “unfounded” after nearly two hours of the building’s being evacuated and swept Wednesday afternoon.

Owatonna Police Capt. Eric Rethemeier said the threat was received at 2:10 p.m. by the Minnesota State Patrol but would not give specifics about what the caller said or the time frame that was given for the bomb to go off. The threat was forwarded to the Owatonna Police Department and officers were sent immediately to the library to evacuate the building and check the estimated 30 patrons and 10 library employees who were inside at the time, according to assistant library director Renee Lowery.

“Everything went calmly and smoothly,” Lowery said. “I thought it all went as well as it could have. The police responded quickly and professionally and covered all the bases.”

Lowery noted that the library would have had many more patrons if school had already been out for the day.

The threat, originally described by Rethemeier as a “non-descript bomb threat,” forced not only the evacuation of the building, but also the closure of the streets surrounding the library when a 300-foot perimeter was set up. Neighboring businesses were informed of the threat, as well as Washington Elementary School officials.