Reading excel file with ODBC

I am trying to use ODBC to read a closed spreadsheet.  The code that I am using (see below) works, but instead of just reading the data, it is actually opening the file and reading the data.  I do not understand why or how.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  Here is the code:

Public Function read_table(ByVal sSearchVal As String) As String
    Dim sCurrDir As String
    Dim Conn As Connection
    Dim adoConn As ADODB.Connection
    Dim adoRS As ADODB.Recordset
    Dim sTab As String
    Dim sRange As String

    sCurrDir = ThisWorkbook.Path

    If InStr(sCurrDir, scDevmnt) > 0 Then
        sCurrDir = scDevTbl
    Else
        sCurrDir = scProdTbl
    End If

    sTab = "User Area 5"
    sRange = "A1:B6"

    Set adoConn = New ADODB.Connection
    adoConn.Open "DRIVER={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)};ReadOnly=1;DBQ=" & sCurrDir
'    adoConn.Open "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & sCurrDir & ";Extended Properties=""Excel 8.0;HDR=NO;"""
    Set adoRS = adoConn.Execute("SELECT TRANSLATION FROM [" & sTab & "$" & sRange & "] WHERE NBU='" & sSearchVal & "'")

    If adoRS.EOF Then
        read_table = sSearchVal
    Else
        read_table = adoRS.Fields(0)
    End If

    adoRS.Close
    adoConn.Close
    Set adoRS = Nothing
    Set adoConn = Nothing
End Function

When you say it is opening it, do you mean that it is opening in Excel, and you can see it? Does it close it as well?

 Yes, it is opening it in Excel, just as if you had done a worksheet.open command.  It does NOT close it when the connection closes.