Is Checking Out a Library Book Really that Risky?

We had a previous blog post about bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) hiding in returned library books and how these books can be the cause of a bed bug infestation. Kristian Wilson at Bustle.com points out that library books which pose the biggest risk would also be heavily soiled so librarians likely wouldn’t return those books to circulation. Also, the library is at a greater risk of infestation than the homes of library patrons because libraries are accepting items back from so many different houses and their furniture could become infested. Kristian also pointed to some great resources for librarians such as this online training video for prevention and treatment of bed bug infestations as well as this PDF on what to look for to spot an infestation in a library item.

While it is true heavily infested items pose the greatest risk, all it takes is one bed bug to cause an outbreak in your home. An adult bed bug can lay as many as three eggs a day and 300 eggs in its lifetime so populations can grow pretty quickly. The best thing to do is educate yourself about signs of bed bugs and request an inspection from a professional exterminator if you have any infestation concerns. This shouldn’t cause you to rethink using your local library, so enjoy all the amazing resources they offer!

*Wilson, Kristian. (2018, February 19).Can You Get Bed Bugs From a Library Book? Yes, but Entomologists Say It’s More Complicated Than That. Retrieved from www.bustle.com