Here's another take on that Times article about bedbugs, one I agree with

The Bedbug Bunk: How the New York Times Used Fear and Misinformation to Spread Public Library Hysteria

On Wednesday afternoon, the New York Times published a story written by Catherine Saint Louis claiming that public libraries were now devoting precious resources to a new threat: bedbugs nesting inside the spines of hardcover books and making their way into public libraries like Norway rats stowing away on dusty ships.

The piece, which drew understandable horror on Twitter on Thursday morning, was the seventh most emailed New York Times story by Thursday afternoon.

But Reluctant Habits has talked with many of Saint Louis’s sources and has learned that the Times article is misleading. Bedbugs are not the major threat that Saint Louis suggests they are. In fact, some of the library directors who Saint Louis spoke with have never had a bedbug epidemic at all. They were merely taking preventive measures in the wake of recent media stories.

I took the story to mean prevention and vigilance was necessary, but I could see where the general public might overreact from the way it was written. Most libraries, of course, have not had an outbreak. They're more likely to have localised water damage from an old pipe, probably. Residences, hotels and places with furniture and people to feed off of--that's where you'll find most bedbugs. But we prepare for disasters and problems with our collections because we are both the stewards of information and provide services to the public.

Via Blake at LISNews.org.

Unfortunately, this is an issue we have to address

both in terms of infestations and fears of patrons who may not use the library out of fear.

A Dark and Itchy Night

READING in bed, once considered a relatively safe pastime, is now seen by some as a riskier proposition.

That’s because bedbugs have discovered a new way to hitchhike in and out of beds: library books. It turns out that tiny bedbugs and their eggs can hide in the spines of hardcover books. The bugs crawl out at night to feed, find a new home in a headboard, and soon readers are enjoying not only plot twists but post-bite welts.

As libraries are scrambling to deal with the problem, so are some book borrowers. Not wanting to spread the misery, considerate patrons sometimes call ahead to discuss with librarians how best to return lent materials from their bedbug-infested homes. Usually, a meeting is arranged so the patron can hand off the offending books or DVDs in Ziploc bags to an employee outside the library.

I know we had a scare at Central Library in Lexington not too long ago. So it does concern me, both as a patron and librarian. By the way, one of the people interviewed was a University of Kentucky professor, entomologist Michael Potter. :)

I hate it when Kentucky makes the news for stupidity

Ky. woman tries to kill bedbugs, burns down apt.

Mind you, she doused her couch with alcohol and then dropped a lit cigarette on it. Because those two things, along with combustible material, go so well together that you'd just have to have a smoke while putting an accelerant on your sofa. Now 30 people have lost their homes due to that stupid action. It could have been worse--there could have been lives lost.

One, in the case of bedbugs, call a professional, or here's a thought, apartment maintenance, so they can make sure it's done professionally. Two, don't mix accelerants and fire, especially when conditions are exceedingly dry and hot. Three, don't wind up on national news doing something stupid. It's not worth the danger to yourself, others, or the fifteen minutes of infamy.

By the way

Downtown Lexington library takes steps to eradicate 'isolated' bedbugs

The Lexington Public Library is taking steps to eradicate bedbugs from the Central Library on East Main Street, but officials say it remains a safe place for patrons.

Two bedbugs were found in recent days in the library, which has as many as half a million visitors each year, said spokesman Doug Tattersall.

"We're still busy, and people need to know they are safe here," he said.

A pair of bedbug-sniffing dogs from a pest control company in Evansville, Ind., found evidence of bedbugs Wednesday in "isolated pieces of furniture" on the first, third and fourth floors of the library, and in some staff areas, Tattersall said.

Furniture identified by the dogs was "immediately removed," he said.

Thanks to YKWIA for the head's up.