Prevention
The Taylor County Public Library actively works toward the prevention and containment of pests, including rodents and insects of all kinds, in the Library and library materials. Staff members are trained on bug prevention, containment, and elimination procedures and act quickly to eliminate any known issues in the Library. The Library is inspected and treated by a professional pest control company on a monthly basis to prevent general pest problems. An inspection or treatment may be ordered at any time deemed necessary by the Library Director.
All materials are inspected and cleaned when returned to the Library. Any item exhibiting signs of bugs of any type, including bed bugs and roaches, is immediately treated or discarded. Items to be treated are placed in a plastic bag or container and sealed. The items are then placed in a special heater designed for bug treatment and heated to a recommended high temperature for a time long enough to kill the pests. After treatment, staff will inspect the items to determine if they can be saved or must be discarded. Items containing bug stains of any kind, especially blood or fecal matter, are not salvageable and must be discarded. Damaged and discarded items are charged to the borrower at replacement value. Items deemed to be in good condition are cleaned and returned to circulation.
Pests in Library Materials
In order to keep the Library a safe place for all patrons to borrow materials, patrons who return items with obvious signs of bugs may have borrowing privileges restricted or suspended. The following procedures will be followed for all Library users:
First Occurrence
The first time a borrower returns materials with signs of bugs, staff will:
- Speak with the patron about what was found in the materials in a non-confrontational and confidential manner.
- Show them the materials and bugs whenever possible.
- Suggest ways the patron can address the issue (keeping materials in closed containers at all times when not being used, inspect them before return, talk with landlord or management if they live in a congregate living facility, etc.)
- Offer information about bug treatment options.
- Explain that no more than three items may be checked out on the patron’s account, as well as any individual accounts connected to the patron’s, at any given time until the patron provides the Library Director proof of treatment, such as a bill from an exterminator or a notice of treatment from a landlord. Or, if no other signs of bugs are found in returned materials for a period of three months, the Library Director, upon request by the patron, may reinstate full borrowing privileges. Further sightings at any time will be considered a second occurrence, even if privileges have been reinstated.
- Explain that if bugs or signs of bugs are found in returned materials again, borrowing privileges for the patron’s account and all connected accounts may be suspended until the patron can demonstrate that their home has been treated.
- Complete an incident report to be filed in the Library Director’s office.
Note the problem on the patron record.
Sample note to write on the patron’s account:
Bugs 1st offense. Returned books with roaches 03/12/18. Limited to 3 items out until proof of treatment or 3 months of returned clean books. Max may be increased on 06/12/18. TLS
Second Occurrence
- The second time a borrower returns materials with signs of pests, at any point after the first occurrence, staff will:
- Speak with the patron about what was found in the materials in a non-confrontational and confidential manner.
- Show them the materials and bugs whenever possible.
- Suspend all borrowing privileges by placing a block on the patron’s account as well as each individual connected account.
- Explain that borrowing privileges have been suspended until the patron provides to the Library Director proof of treatment such as a bill from an exterminator or a notice of treatment from a landlord. If such proof is provided, full borrowing privileges may be reinstated by the Director. Further sightings at any time in the future will be considered a second occurrence, even though privileges had been reinstated.
- Complete an incident report to be filed in the Library Director’s office.
- Note the problem on the patron record.