TheBugs Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/garden/bedbugs-hitch-a-ride-on-library-books.html?src=dayp&_r=0 Oh no....bed bugs in library books? I never thought of this. We use a lot of library books for homeschool. Also, my kids read books in bed. One time my husband said they shouldn't bring the library books into bed with them and I just thought he was being annoying (he's a germaphobe). I am still going to be going to the library, but I will just keep this in my mind and perhaps keep library books out of bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Ewww! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniBlondes Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Oh goodness! I did NOT need to see this. I am a germaphobe as well. My family picks on me because I always wipe the books down with a wet bleach cloth when we bring them home. But my girls read in their bed every night. Now I'll be concerned about bed bugs too. Yuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Yuck. I should not have read that article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Noooo. That just stinks. It never occured to me. Bed bugs have not become a big issue in our area, yet. But I know they will, it's only a matter of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I just emailed our city libary system to see what kind of policies they have in place. Our city has a big bed bug problem - it appears on those lists of "10 cities with highest bed bug reports." Serveral houses our block have had infestations. And earlier this year, a local school was repported as having bed bugs and got treatment. So, this article doesn't come as a big surprise. Still, it does get me concerned, as we use the libraries a lot, borrowing dozens of books each week. Aigh. This is going to complicate things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Great. Now I have to mentally run the cost/benefit analysis of establishing a monthly book fund when we're trying to cut back, vs. taking the chance of needing bedbug remediation to the tune of several thousand dollars. Not where I wanted to spend my mental energy this morning. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 We had bed bugs in 2008 (I brought them home from the hospital after having middle DS). My germophobic DH was totally traumatized by the experience and for ages was very unhappy about all kinds of unavoidable things, including my bringing home library books. I did it anyway, of course, and he's calmed down over time. When I saw the article in today's paper I immediately put the paper in the recycling but he is surely going to see it online. If he gets really wound up I am going to suggest getting one of those heat machines. That would be far, far cheaper than buying all of our books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songsparrow Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I've read that you can kill bed bugs with heat (over 120 deg) or cold (under 23 deg), so you could put the books in a Ziplock bag on your car's dash in hot weather, or in the freezer or outside in cold weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBugs Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 I was reading the comment section after the article on line and someone said he puts the books in a black garbage bag and leaves them in his car in Florida, to kill any bed bugs that might be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwallowTail Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Ugh. I will be freaking out about this now. And you can't protect your home by simply not reading the books in the bed. As soon as they come into your house, they can start moving into all the furniture, carpets, and anything else they might wander into. I wonder if you can microwave books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Best-sellers that have rested on many night tables are high-risk, he explained, as are hardcovers with spines where a female can lay eggs. “You probably don’t want to check out a popular book,†he said. “Maybe try old history books.†Whew. I think we're good. Old history books is, like, 90% of what we check out. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Kindle... Kobo... Nooks. I love ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisbeth Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Yep, not shocked. We gave up the library two yrs ago and buy all of our own. I am amazed it is not more widespread in libraries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyful Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Here's good information about bed bugs and how to kill them: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/bedbugs/html/home/home.shtml and bedbugger.com But basically, the experts do not recommend trying to heat items in a car in the summer. It's hard to measure the temperature of the object. One wants to make sure that the item reaches 120 degrees F through and through and that that temperature is maintained for at least an hour. Also, it takes a longer time for freezing temperatures to kill bed bugs and their eggs. The machines mentioned by JennyD (Packtite) work well with books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Kindle... Kobo... Nooks. I love ya! :iagree: and www.librivox.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Not reading the article, but yes, I've heard this before. In the summer, I tend to leave the books in the car for awhile. If it's 120 outside, I can only imagine that my car is a little oven. In the winter, I just try not to think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Eeewwww! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinmami01 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Oh goodness! I did NOT need to see this. I am a germaphobe as well. My family picks on me because I always wipe the books down with a wet bleach cloth when we bring them home. But my girls read in their bed every night. Now I'll be concerned about bed bugs too. Yuck. It it comforting to know that I am not the only one who does this. Yes, I m a germophobe and seriously didn't need to see this either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Is there nothing sacred anymore? Not even library books? :ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Euwwwwww! :ack2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyr Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 yeah, suddenly I thinking I need to make better use of my kindle..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 And remember, it isn't just that the bedbugs can live in beds. They like anything with crevices. So, you can keep the books out of the bedroom, but bugs can live in a couch or a bookcase etc. This is really freaking me out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathkath Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 oven work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendag Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I definitely don't want to deal with a bedbug problem. We go every other week. I think our book budget just went up a couple of notches. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justme824 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Yeah, I think our book budget is going to get a raise. The whole idea just creeps me out. I've actually gotten so tired of late fees that I'll welcome the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I am a big germaphobe, too. Great, something else to worry about. We've been reading more digital books for other reasons lately, but I think we'll keep going that direction!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansmama Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 This really creeps me out, but I'm glad to know so we don't continue to check out popular books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I think the concern maybe overblown. Even one of our local librarians who was interviewed for that NYT article says the chances of getting bedbugs from your library is very low. Seattle Article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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