diff --git a/buildingmotif/dataclasses/library.py b/buildingmotif/dataclasses/library.py
index 481f8465..c3994258 100644
--- a/buildingmotif/dataclasses/library.py
+++ b/buildingmotif/dataclasses/library.py
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ def _clear_library(cls, library: DBLibrary) -> None:
         bm = get_building_motif()
         for template in library.templates:  # type: ignore
             bm.session.delete(template)
+        bm.session.commit()
 
     # TODO: load library from URI? Does the URI identify the library uniquely?
     # TODO: can we deduplicate shape graphs? use hash of graph?