chepyl Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 They found bedbugs at one of the local libraries....I have not been to that branch in a while, but we get books ion inter library loan all the time.....I will be avoiding the library for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 This post sent cold chills down my spine. GACK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I think this is one of my biggest fears. Eeeeeeeeeek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 ewwwwww ewwwww ewwwwwwww Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Some library in Denver had a problem with them too. They narrowed it down to one patron. He still kept coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Ick....and we're headed to the library this morning. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdwinglips Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Ick, ewww, shiver, blech!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 That is just awful!:ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once Again Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I can't quit checking books out from the library.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Can the bedbugs live & be happy in books? Or do they need a bed, carpet, Or other soft material? Keeping library books out of our beds . . . Easier said than done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Ok. Stop telling us stuff like this!! I've got 160 library books in my living room. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 This post sent cold chills down my spine. GACK! :iagree::iagree:Horror! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 They closed the branch to exterminate and we will no Lo.ger be able to take backpack, possible strollers, and other things into any branch. I still went to the booksale at a different branch today...$12 and a full box of books :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisainOhio Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Eeek I just glanced over and saw a large pile of library books on my sofa. The thought of bed bugs realllly freaks me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Ok. Stop telling us stuff like this!! I've got 160 library books in my living room. :D That's what I was thinking, and another 20 stacked by my bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 We ordered a PackTite a while ago, so we can put library books (or suitcases after a trip) in there. The PackTite heats up to kill any bedbugs or eggs. After reading all the threads on here, I decided I couldn't easily go on vacation or to the library any longer without some way to prevent infesting our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kile529 Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Oh....my....stars.....ick!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thia Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Ewwww. So what can be done with the books to kill the BB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Oh Ack!:ohmy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soonermomma Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I'm in Oklahoma also and saw that in the news! What I thought was crazy was they didn't close the library until a day and half after they were discovered. We haven't been to that branch in several months, and like you, we won't be going back for a good long while!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 We just went to the library on Friday. I DID in fact check the books for bedbugs! (Not sure if I checked well "enough" though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Aaaahhhhhh!!!! That just freaks. me. out. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsy Type Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Yuck! That's my favorite library. Now I'm worried about going there. :-( as a side note, I might have seen you at the booksale. I picked up a few things there this afternoon. How cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Can the bedbugs live & be happy in books? Or do they need a bed, carpet, Or other soft material? Keeping library books out of our beds . . . Easier said than done. They can be happy in books. They often live in things like smoke detectors or electrical sockets. They don't call them bedbugs because they like beds. The only reason they stay near beds is that they like YOU. They are also known for living near couches as well. When you're sitting on the couch for a couple of hours at night watching tv (especially in the dark), they'll come out of their hiding places and have dinner. Ninja Bug Guy showed me how to look for them in books. It's just a visual inspection. (Which might not work for eggs only, but will show you actual bugs.) Look in the front and back jacket covers. Flip thru the pages to see if bugs are there (or fall out!). Open the book and peer through the spine (if it bubbles open.) The only treatments for bedbugs are heat--about 140 degrees or so for half an hour or so (maybe longer--the entire area has to be evenly heated) or the chemicals that exterminators have. (I had bedbugs a year ago this month and posted a number of horrified posts about it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Dh said that we should just put our library books in the oven for awhile if we really wanted to be proactive and kill any possible bugs, but I'm afraid the plastic covers that they have would melt (or the hot plastic would release some sort of fumes into the air.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Yuck! That's my favorite library. Now I'm worried about going there. :-( as a side note, I might have seen you at the booksale. I picked up a few things there this afternoon. How cool! I was there at 9 am when they opened! There was another mom there picking up educational materials...everyone else was getting pleasure reading :) I was the one grabbing all the books on ancients! I found some great stuff. I only stayed for about 20 minutes because we were heading off to the Wildlife Expo in Guthrie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookeeper Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Ok, I'm in Oklahoma. Can you please PM me which branch this was? I just don't watch the news much I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 How long does it take to kill them if they are sealed tight in plastic ? It would be easy to quarantine books for a few day in zipper baggies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Ok, I'm in Oklahoma. Can you please PM me which branch this was? I just don't watch the news much I guess. Norman branch of Pioneer Library System. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookeeper Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Norman branch of Pioneer Library System. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerPoppy Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 How long does it take to kill them if they are sealed tight in plastic ? It would be easy to quarantine books for a few day in zipper baggies. I'm no expert, but I remember reading that they can go weeks to months without eating if need be. :svengo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I'm no expert, but I remember reading that they can go weeks to months without eating if need be. :svengo: I was thinking of a lack of air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmama Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Bedbugs can live for weeks in a plastic ziploc bag. I've seen them. We had them. It was horrific. I still have nightmares. I can't even describe how gross I felt for months. We have a Pack Tite now (which a previous poster mentioned). I will now be pack-titing the library books, too. Wow. For those who don't have a pack tite, 30 mins in the dryer would work. Put books in a pillow case with a few stuffed animals or something to keep them from bonking around too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thia Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thank you dsmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I thought I read that the freezer works, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Bedbugs can live for weeks in a plastic ziploc bag. I've seen them. We had them. It was horrific. I still have nightmares. I can't even describe how gross I felt for months. We have a Pack Tite now (which a previous poster mentioned). I will now be pack-titing the library books, too. Wow. For those who don't have a pack tite, 30 mins in the dryer would work. Put books in a pillow case with a few stuffed animals or something to keep them from bonking around too much. I have a rack for the dryer that holds things in place in the middle (no spinning - it's made for tennis shoes). I guess I will use that. Honestly, I really regret reading this thread.:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewingMom2many Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Eww! I'm glad I read the thread though. I have a dryer rack so I guess I will put them in there for 30 minutes after we get home. I use a wheeled crate at the library so I won't have to worry about anything in a backpack and I guess I probably shouldn't let the boys look at books in the van on the way home. Never thought I'd have to do anything like this. I always wondered about germs on the books (my kids like to take the books into the bathroom and I'm sure other kids do too) but I'm not too big of a germ-a-phobe so I tried not to let it bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorCalMom Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 :eek: We go to the library at least twice a week....I think I'm going to be sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 (edited) Bedbugs can live for weeks in a plastic ziploc bag. I've seen them. We had them. It was horrific. I still have nightmares. I can't even describe how gross I felt for months. We have a Pack Tite now (which a previous poster mentioned). I will now be pack-titing the library books, too. Wow. For those who don't have a pack tite, 30 mins in the dryer would work. Put books in a pillow case with a few stuffed animals or something to keep them from bonking around too much. 30 minutes in a dryer IF your dryer definintely gets to 120 degrees. When I had bedbugs (a year ago), I had to take everything to the laundromat because those were the only dryers that got hot enough. I don't know about a bag with no air (vacuum sealed or something?), but bedbugs can go into a hibernation mode for a year. I still have some leather jackets that are in a tightly sealed plastic bag waiting for the year to expire. (Actually, I was so freaked out by the bugs that I'm waiting a year and a half, just to be sure!) There was no way for me to heat the leather jackets without ruining them. (I'm not even sure the bugs were on the jackets, but since they were stored in my bedroom closet, I have to treat them as if they are there.) Eww! I'm glad I read the thread though. I have a dryer rack so I guess I will put them in there for 30 minutes after we get home. I use a wheeled crate at the library so I won't have to worry about anything in a backpack and I guess I probably shouldn't let the boys look at books in the van on the way home. Never thought I'd have to do anything like this. I always wondered about germs on the books (my kids like to take the books into the bathroom and I'm sure other kids do too) but I'm not too big of a germ-a-phobe so I tried not to let it bother me. If you're serious about this, you need to keep them contained in plastic bags (trashbags perhaps) in the car. They can live happily in the car, and then ride in your purse, on clothes, etc, into the house later. And someone else mentioned freezing them. Ninja Bug Guy (who was very helpful and knowledgeable) said that freezing was iffy at best and din't really recommend counting on it as a way to get rid of them. Heat and chemicals is what he says works. The more I think about it, the more I'm wondering about the oven at it's lowest setting for 20 minutes. (My oven's lowest setting is 200, so it might be too much and ruin the books.) I might have to test this.... Edited September 25, 2011 by Garga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I'm thinking I might just blow-dry all the library books on the front porch when we get home. Not long enough for the heat to kill anything - but to literally blow out all the nooks and crannies of each page in all the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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