[Web4lib] CAN LIBRARIES BE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION?

[Hogue Melanie]

In my library, we do wipe off the books after each circulation. That
doesn't clean the pages, though.

Yes, libraries are a source of germs. Having said that, so are schools,
post offices, supermarkets, WalMart, airplanes and buses and their
terminals, and virtually EVERY public place that exists in the world. No
one would suggest that we all live our entire lives in our homes for
fear of touching something dirty. And, it certainly isn't a reason for
the extinction of libraries! 

Having said THAT; it can't hurt to wash ones hands frequently. :)

But, there are some who argue that trying too hard to live in a germ
free environment makes people more likely rather than less likely to get
sick because a person's body has no opportunity to develop immunity by
gradual exposure. An example of this is the school/daycare experience. A
child's first year in daycare or school is usually full of minor
illnesses; then it slows or stops because the child has developed
immunities to the common "germs". Here is an article that covers this
topic relating to children and allergies-
http://www.usc.edu/hsc/info/pr/hmm/00-01winter/germs.html . I have read
loads of material over the years presenting this view point with regard
to living in general. Does anyone have better access to journal articles
about this?

Melanie Amy Hogue, Librarian I
Business, Science & Technology
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library

The Smartest Card. Get it. Use it.
@ the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library

 


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of saleem akhtar
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 7:11 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] CAN LIBRARIES BE SOURCE OF CONTIMINATION?
Importance: High


Hi collective wisdom 

 

Can libraries become source of contamination? Many people borrow books
from library and they all have different hygiene levels. For instance
they may not wash their hands, after nature's call, and with same dirty
hands flip through library books.  

 

Some people carelessly/intentionally can leave all sorts of dirt or
germs on library books, do we have or can we think of any safeguard
against this health hazard to library staff and other patrons, who may
borrow the same books later? Can this be reason why medical
professionals don't visit libraries often?

 

Further, please read following article written by an ENT specialist on
WEB MD, which started me thinking on these lines. 

 

http://blogs.webmd.com/all-ears/2006/06/dirty-places-part-3-your-doctors
.htm
l

 

Please press ctrl and click and not enter key. Or paste the link in your
browser's window.

 

 

The doctor concerned in this article recommends avoiding reading
magazines etc. in doctor's waiting room, because of possible
contamination and hence advice people to bring their own reading
material and toys for children, etc. 

 

By this standard the libraries should be extinct? This doctor has
counted "dirty dozen", the dozen dirty places to be careful about for
possible disease catching places. Most of these places are public, why
then, he did not mention libraries? 

 

What do you think about this article/matter?

 

Regards

Saleem

Glasgow, Scotland

      

 

 

 

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