Library book circulation and cleaning during a pandemic

As of June 2020, US public libraries have announced their plans to allow book check-out again. Once the book is checked back in, it is cleaned and put on hold for 72 hours. After that, it is returned to the active physical book collection.

I asked a virologist if the above procedure sounds effective in eliminating COVID-19 disease transmission risks. His answer is, "Yes, if the library staff wears gloves when on the job."

PS: The most-often recommended material of which disposable gloves are made is nitrile. Blue nitrile gloves are sold at Walgreens, both in stores and on the Walgreens website.

I don’t think all “US public libraries” are on the same timetable or have the same procedures planned.

>1 MaureenRoy: I think that's ALA standard guideline based on CDC recommendations. Not 100% sure. I know my local library is follow those procedures. ALA has a long list of resources for reopening: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/planning-reopening-resources

My library opened Monday for curbside pick-up. The librarian who brought the unbagged items out had no gloves on and when she wanted to talk, she pulled her mask down. I'm not concerned for myself, but she needs more training.

One of the book stores in Dublin has been telling people their plans for Covid when they reopen after lock-down. Apparently they will be taking any book browsed by a customer and isolating it for 72 hours before putting it back on the shelf. That is going to difficult for them. It is a pity it takes so long to develop a vaccine. I miss bookshop browsing.

I wonder if we will have to follow a one-way system that will bring us past books we have no interest in.

The future is going to be a weird place.

In the olden days, before the widespread use of penicillin, my mother-in-law would bake library books in a moderate oven before return if one of her children had scarlet fever. The books didn't have plastic covers then so no melting, but they must have been a bit crisp and curly. I was not told what the librarians' reactions were.

I guess the past was a touch weird too.

>6 abbottthomas: I have heard of “cooking the books” but never met anyone who admitted a family member was guilty of it.
:-)

>6 abbottthomas: I've microwaved printer paper so it doesn't jam in the machine in a humid office. One of my college professors said he'd baked his books after he had to have his A/C fix-- again, to cook the moisture from our humid climate out.

I don't know what the long-term effects would be but can easily imagine careful cooking that doesn't immediately cause noticeable damage of the pages or of some covers.

There have been a couple recent studies: the REALM project (it's an acronym but I forget what for) looked at covid levels on library materials over time and recommended the 72 hour timeframe for cloth bound books and paper.

>9 jonsweitzerlamme: REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums