[Web4lib] CAN LIBRARIES BE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION?

[John Fereira]

At 12:05 PM 8/22/2007, Hogue Melanie wrote:
>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!

It seems to me that keep a few boxes of those inexpensive disposable 
rubber gloves might
be a good idea, especially for handling rarer materials.



John Fereira
jaf30 at cornell.edu
Ithaca, NY