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, Second, and Third 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.
- Explain that only checkout privileges will be restricted. They are allowed to use the Library and all other in-house materials, equipment, and programing
- Explain that checkout privileges for the borrower as well as individual accounts connected to the borrower will be suspended until proof of treatment of the borrower’s home is provided to the Library Director. Such proof could be in the form of an exterminator’s bill or a professional notice of treatment. Then, for a period of three months, the borrower will be restricted to three items checked out at a time on the patron’s account, as well as any individual accounts connected to the patron’s account. 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.
- A second occurrence will have the same consequences as the first one.
- Upon a third occurrence, the library staff will notify the Director who will speak with the patron and explain that checkout privileges will be suspended for 6 months and reinstated after proof of treatment is once again presented at the end of 6 months.
- 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