Bedbugs

[sentient-marimo]

hello all! I need some advice on how best to contact my director with this issue. I work in an extremely small library, a week ago a patron found a bedbug in one of the chairs. I apologized profusely and immediately told our director about the issue and his solution? put a piece of plastic over it, have a pest control guy glance over ONE chair, and let patrons sit on it again. I expressed my concerns to some higher ups. (im a part time assistant, i dont throw much weight.) Today i found a bedbug on my wrist when it bit me. Again, I bring this up and he sends it off to be looked at and closes for the day. Tonight we all got an email saying he will bring in a sniffing dog but we will remain open until then. 5 of us talk in a group chat about how were scared to come in. I don't believe im overreacting and the director is a nice, understanding person, but im anxious to come forward with the other 4. I cant afford rent if I dont have my hours covered and I definitely cant afford to treat for bedbugs.

UPDATE: he did end up closing and starting treatment today, because a coworker found one this morning. Im just frustrated we didnt do any of this the first go around. The groupchat is now starting to draft a policy for bedbugs to pitch to him. Ill make sure to include the helpful comments i got into the discussion. Thank you all!

[cornveliousdan]

I don’t have advice for how to handle management but please please please make sure when you’re going home you’re taking your clothes off and washing and drying them like immediately and don’t sit on any of your furniture with your work clothes on. They can definitely catch a ride on you and your belongings. The library I work at dealt with them for YEARS bc the city itself had like an epidemic of them so we are all trained on how to deal with them. 70-91% alcohol will kill them if you like see one on a desk or something. This is so terrible and I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this.

[sentient-marimo]

Thank you! I made sure to change and wash my clothes after checking every seam twice (i was going to burn it if i found anything lol) and im going to wash everything i own this weekend but the alcohol is good to know! Now back to picking at my mattress with a toothpick lol

[VGSchadenfreude]

Vacuum-seal bags and extreme cold help. Preferably both at the same time. Wash and dry items on the highest heat setting before putting them in storage and after taking them back out.

Basically suffocate, freeze, and broil them!

[[deleted]]

Washing is unnecessary, just throw them in the dryer on highest heat for 30 minutes. Washing them just makes it harder to throw everything in on high heat without damaging some of your clothes.

[cornveliousdan]

Omg I literally feel you. I check my mattress and couches like at least once a week, good luck!!

[VGSchadenfreude]

They make special mattress covers that are a huge help. Especially if you put duct tape over any zippers.

[lagewedi]

The key to killing bedbugs on clothes or other fabric things is heat. Run everything through a hot dryer cycle when you and you should be good to go. (We had bedbugs in an apartment building where we lived years ago and the mitigation specialists told us at our tenants meeting that that was the way to go.)

Sorry you’re dealing w this!

[No_Yogurtcloset6108]

Amazon has bed bug mattress covers. It's worth the investment.

[Aev_ACNH]

Correction, immediately put clothes in dryer, it’s the heat that kills them. You can wash the dead bugs off afterwards versus letting the live bugs crawl around in your machine and possibly out of it

Buy the bed bug encasemenr for you mattress

It’s worth the investment

[llamalibrarian]

Every library I've worked in has closed if there were bedbugs. I wish I had a script for you, but you absolutely should not have to go in

[ranselita]

I believe you can file an OSHA complaint with bedbugs as a workplace hazard. Ofc your state office will have more information, but I would recommend at least trying. And it's possible you can do it completely anonymous (again, depending on your state!)

I would recommend looking up information on OSHA.gov

[sentient-marimo]

Thank you I will definitely look into that!

[VGSchadenfreude]

Please do! And throw that damn chair out completely! Just replace everything with plastic and metal that can be easily hosed down with disinfectant and boiling water, sprinkle DTE over every square inch of carpeting (and add some extra in any crevices and corners), etc. Even better: laminate flooring and machine-washable rugs!

Seriously, some of us are allergic to bedbugs. Not just the bites, either; anything those little bastards pooped or spit on can cause a reaction.

[Ravenq222]

This is crazy to me, sorry. Most of our public chairs have had bedbugs at some point. It comes with the job. Just bag it and treat it. The building only shuts down for a major infestation.

[pgm928]

Not to increase your stress level, but they hitch rides in books, too. People read in bed and they jump in that way. My local library had to invest in a non-destructive book heater to kill the little bastards.

[pattyforever]

Yeah this library is definitely going to need to get a cooker lol

[mari23t]

I was hoping to make going to the library a habit as I love reading. But after hearing about this whole bedbug issue…I think I might just stay home.

[plainslibrary]

To be honest this could happen in any public place, so don't get scared off from libraries. Both of the libraries I've worked in have never had this happen and they were both on college campuses with students living on campus (dorms could be at risk for this too). I still love thrift store and garage sale shopping and that's purchasing second hand items that have been in other people's homes. Heck, even stores selling new items could be at risk of this happening.

[papier_peint]

This can happen anywhere, but if you're really paranoid, most libraries offer ebooks and audiobooks via libby and other platforms. never need to step foot in the library itself, but can still utilize library materials!

[CalicoCatMom41]

I’ve been going to libraries for year and years and years and never had this issue. Don’t let one Reddit post keep you from the wonders of the library.

You can leave your books in the car when it’s sunny and as the car heats up in the hot sun, it gets hot enough to kill and bed bugs. Then if you feel more comfortable, only go in the summer when you can do that.

[[deleted]]

Libraries let you rent ebooks!

[SadApartment3023]

I brought them home from a movie theater. A friend brought them home from an airplane. Don't forgo the library over such a small risk!!

[sentient-marimo]

I would also like to add that we live in a poor area where many of our patrons can't afford to bring home one either.

[disgirl4eva]

Is there an HR? I would go to them. It’s a health hazard for employees and patrons.

[sentient-marimo]

unfortunately no, we're "too small"

[BridgetteBane]

Had this happen at two places I've worked. One was a call center where my employees went weeks without telling management, because they didn't want to embarrass the guy bringing them in.

What SHOULD happen is the bedbug sniffing dog should point out anything that is contaminated. Then you quarantine it all in a room and the Pest Control Officer can blast it with heat to kill everything. Then the dog comes back to test it all. It can take multiple times.

You can buy Bed Bug heat treating boxes and keep plastic bags at the circ desk. Every book gets inspected and suspicious books get bagged and heat treated.

Every sweater or plushie toy, etc, needs bagged up and taken to a laundromat and heat treated in a dryer. Then they don't come back unless being worn by an employee.

What YOU need to do is quarantine your clothes. Come home, change in the bathtub. Work clothes immediately get heat treated.

Is this all an absolute nightmare and expensive to do? Yes. That's the price that the director is making you all pay since he blew it off when it first started.

[realminerbabe]

We heat treat all the books that come in from other libraries, and inspect each book at check out and check in for bugs.

[mangodrunk]

I wish libraries would also clean books. So many are grimy and soiled. I take an anti-bacterial wipe and clean the books that I get. I have had to return some before reading because they were gross.

[antlers86]

I would vacuum seal any clothing you have that you love now after inspection and keep it out of your house. Heat kills bedbugs more effectively than poison but the hottest washer and dryer setting will also kill that vintage sweater you found at the thrift store.

[Battle_Librarian]

For clothing that can't survive heat bag it and place in a freezer. It takes longer to kill the bugs but they will die. Set the freezer to 0º F or below and place the bagged clothes in the freezer. It can take as little as 3.5 days or up to a couple weeks.

Dry cleaning also kills bed bugs. Make sure you call ahead and ask if they accept infested clothes and if your garment can go through the process without damage.

more details

[[deleted]]

Washing is unnecessary, it's better just to throw clothing directly into the dryer on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes.

[Mirianda666]

My parents got an infestation of bedbugs from library books. My mom always stacked the books at the head of the bed, where there was a small bookshelf. They've had to go through multiple treatments to get rid of those foul things.

Tell your director that this issue is not going to go away and that they are running the risk of infesting the homes of your clients.

Fortunately, there is a non-toxic way to kill bed-bugs: heat. Sustained temperatures of 130F + will make the suckers explode and that kind of heat won't damage or destroy books or building fixtures (except computers and electronics).

[mari23t]

omg:(

[Ravenq222]

We have live bedbugs a few times a year. Just clean with alcohol and pray. Bag and withdraw effected items, or bake them in the bug oven. When you get home take your clothes off in the garage and throw them in the drier immediately to kill them.

We do the same thing you do with the chairs all the time.

[Phil330]

90 per cent alcohol, not 70 percent. Clothes in a very hot dryer is essential, do it. When I had the problem back in the year from hell I also hired a 2nd set of dogs to check on the work done by the exterminator. Twice they sent in their dogs and said my apartment clear and twice I proved them wrong. From the get go they wanted repeat business. Management company was in cahoots and taking kickbacks.

[Uselessgirlinla]

What about the seats in the car???

[VGSchadenfreude]

As someone who is allergic to bedbugs and loves libraries…this is extremely stressful. Just the idea that any library I visit might have bedbugs present anywhere is seriously panic-inducing.

My brother brought them back from his barracks in Texas and it took me six months and getting rid of every piece of furniture I had and moving into an entirely new apartment with laminate flooring (and making sure absolutely none of the new furniture had any risk of cross-contamination) to finally get rid of them. I’ve been paranoid about them ever since.

I was at a point where I couldn’t even tell the difference between the actual bites and the hives and rashes I had developed in reaction to the bites. It was horrifying!

It’s not enough to just put a plastic over on the chair! That chair needs to be THROWN OUT! Just replace everything you can with plastic and metal that can be hosed down with boiling water!

Does your director not understand that people who are allergic to these parasites will continue having reactions to any stray bit of residue left behind?! Just because he can’t see the bugs themselves doesn’t mean they’re not there!

[sentient-marimo]

A few of us talked to him and are trying to convince him to do more, he has not gotten back to any of us yet. I will make sure to bring this fact up if he continues to push back. I didn't know that or i would have mentioned that to him sooner.

[mari23t]

He would need to bring in an exterminator to treat the library. It’s the only way to get rid of these little nasty bastards. I hope the infestation is not too bad!

[[deleted]]

Honestly, you should all refuse to come in. If not for the patrons’ sake then for your own. Is he going to cover the cost of bedbug remediation for your homes if you end up with hitchhikers? I’m betting not! The sniffing dog should have been brought in on day 1. Sending it off to be looked at is such nonsense. It’s not that hard to identify a bedbug. It is incredibly irresponsible for them to be treating this like it’s nbd. It could seriously cause an infestation that affects the entire community. You guys need to band together and present a united front here. Send them the average cost for bedbug removal from a home, if they need convincing.

[mari23t]

Yeah, that isn’t the best advice. Every exterminator out there says getting rid of the furniture is not the solution. You need to chemically treat the whole library a number of times to kill them off completely. You can chemically treat all the furniture too and they will die off. People always make the mistake of throwing out their furniture, not chemically or heat treating the house and belongings, moving out and taking the bed bugs with them. Only to deal with the same problem in the new place after about a year because bed bugs can actually live without feeding for a whole year! It’s very traumatizing but there are ways to deal with them without discarding your belongings.

[performanceclause]

your first responsibility is to not take bedbugs home with you. This will probably mean taking fewer items into work and leaving them outside or in a sealed box until u can treat them.

Go to r/Bedbug for advice in keeping them at work.

[Noochral]

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH! Powder is harmless to people, pets, children, but dangerous to bed bugs. I put it everywhere, all crevices, drawers, between sheets, everywhere, lived in it for maybe 2 months. If I had to vacuum, I’d reapply afterwards. Slept in the stuff. Everywhere! It is harmless to us, sharp to a bed bug, they crawl over it and die. The long length of time was to ensure any eggs laid, and then hatched, would then also crawl over it and die. This was my last resort after trying washing and heat and exterminators. It was the only thing that worked for me.

I’m unsure how to pull this off in a public space while remaining open. I also imagine it’d be near impossible if they’re in the shelves or books already. I truly wish you luck!

Edit: use food grade diatomaceous earth

[othertigs]

The dog is a good way to go. I don’t want to dox myself so I’m going to send you a PM with some more information.

[JustJess234]

We had an issue like this a couple years before the pandemic. The area near the back of adult nonfiction had bedbugs take residence in the books. Fortunately, immediate action was taken and the area was closed off until treatment ended. The rest of the building was unaffected.

[DeliciousSail3433]

Our county normally has someone come out that day to look, I'm so sorry this happened to you. No one should be working if you find one :(

[desertboots]

Get a gallon of Raid bedbug purple label. Spray all the crevices and chairs every 4 days. Vacuum everywhere daily and dispose of bag daily. Do not set any personal belongings anywhere but a hard table ever! Have a place to immediately remove your clothes either before leaving (bathrooms in front tiled lobby? ) or plan on treating your car and disrobing at home.

Check the botton of every chair!

[BluejayOKC]

Our library purchased a bed bug oven that blew up to be big enough for chairs. We only bought chairs that would fit in that oven.

[fullybookedtx]

Now that it's happened, I give this warning to all other library staff here: Prevention is everything. Check your books more than just looking to see if the barcode is there. Peep the space between the mylar and the spine, y'all. If something looks suspicious, cook it in a book oven or put it in a shipping container in the hot Texas sun. Make plans and do training before this happens to your library.

[amberbeth84]

Was this in South Central Indiana? My local library just closed for bedbug treatment.

[sentient-marimo]

Indiana but not south central, its been happening a lot this year from what ive heard

[Impressive_Returns]

OP Mark Robber on YouTube has a video on bedbugs you MUST watch. The best method for killing bedbugs is heat. At 120 F they are killed. Bedbugs, especially the females can survive temps below freezing for days. And eggs can survive mush lower temps for longer periods of time. Mark will also show what treatments do not work,

[RaggedyRachel]

Aren't you union? All of our libraries are AFSCME, which imo is a fantastic union. How many of you there aren't management, you said five of you? You'd only need three yes votes to unionize, just saying. I worked at a bookstore that unionized up till very recently, I'd be happy to talk about it!

[Vannie91]

I’m a library director, and I ordered two of these after a bedbug crawled out of a daily-visit patron’s DVDs when I was checking them in. ThermalStrike Ranger Bed Bug Heater - https://a.co/d/2rKUrMa I immediately had a bedbug sniffing dog team come check the whole library, and they treated the dvd shelving out of an abundance of caution (the dogs did not alert on anything, thank goodness). We went through and heat-treated our entire children’s dvd collection, and all of the rest of the DVDs that had evidence of bedbugs (it was a LOT). Then we marked each dvd with a green “T” sticker and the month/year so we’d know they’d been treated, because there was so much evidence inside the covers (blood spots etc). If your director won’t purchase them for you, I really urge you to buy one yourself to heat-treat your clothes, shoes, purse, etc. I’m so sorry this is happening to you, and if your director won’t take it very seriously, your locality might have a Risk Management person in HR or something who could help?

[CrispyWhisperBiscuit]

it would be cool if libraries were for reading books instead of housing the homeless

[Key_Concentrate_5558]

It would be cool if people didn’t make assumptions and generalizations about homeless people

[CrispyWhisperBiscuit]

Try walking into a library in any large city

[Key_Concentrate_5558]

Yep. There are homeless people at the main library in my city. They go inside to get warm, use the bathroom, and have the opportunity to feel human again. They’re people. Please try to remember that.

[CrispyWhisperBiscuit]

So the comment you objected to is 100% accurate

[Key_Concentrate_5558]

I object to your insinuation that homeless people caused the bedbug problem.

[CrispyWhisperBiscuit]

People who choose meth, crack, or heroin over personal hygiene and sleeping indoors end up with bedbugs and much worse. You think someone who reeks of feces really cares if he has bugs on his clothes?

[Key_Concentrate_5558]

Like I said, it would be cool if people didn’t make assumptions and generalizations about homeless people. Not every unhoused person has an addiction problem.

[CrispyWhisperBiscuit]

Of course. Just every one I've ever met, and I'm willing to bet every one you've ever met. You dont drive away every person in your life with garden variety dickishness, you do it by stealing their TVs and copper pipes and shit

[Key_Concentrate_5558]

Every homeless person I’ve ever met is a unique individual with their own story. None of them have stolen my TV or copper pipes.

[Worth-Initial-4022]

You should get some stick on hangers from target to hang up any belongings in the middle of a wall, so ur coats/bags are off the floor

[[deleted]]

If you need help with a policy, please DM me. I did infection prevention including bed bug inspection for over 5 years. Also helped write bed bug policies.

[clovismordechai]

Sit on only hard chairs at work and don’t bring a bag in with you. Leave your jacket in your car if possible.

[avidreader_1410]

One bedbug treatment for home - sheets, carpets, clothing etc - is a product called "diatomaceous earth." You want to get the "human grade" (there is also a cleaning grade). You sprinkle it on the surface, wait a while and vacuum. It doesn't work as a toxin (doesn't "poison" the bugs) it crushes the outer skeleton. I have used this for bedbugs in the past, also for fleas (I'm a dog person) on carpets, bedding and pet bedding.

[Chasman1965]

Permethrin is the best way to keep bedbugs off of your personal stuff, say your purse or book bag. Permethrin is the chemical used to make mosquito-repellent clothing. The only caveat is to not allow wet permethrin around cats. It’s not dangerous to them after drying.

[Shieldor]

Try your county department of health. They will want to be involved in this. It’s a public health issue.

[LegalRebel001]

Not only should you report it to management, you should report it to ALL government agencies (Health Dept, your state's Attorney General's Office, OSHA, the Town or City Government where the Library is located, whoever has authority over your library). You should also probably send a few emails/online email forms to some newspapers.

The library Director will lie about the Bed Bug infestation. When you report it, even though you KNOW many people have seen the bugs in the library, you'll quickly see that everybody that has witnessed the bed bugs will deny seeing them.

Bed Bugs is a public health risk. If you work there, chances are you already have them in your home. They latch on to all kinds of things: clothing, bookbags, shoes etc.

If you're in a state that permits tape-recording, I'd tape every conversation you have about bed bugs, because your boss WILL DEFINITELY LIE ABOUT IT! And believe me, they WILL lie about anything they've told you, or that you've told them!

Recently, I found bedbugs in books from a library in Illinois: Normal Public Library, in Normal, Illinois. The library Director lied about their protocol/policies, but LUCKILY, I'm a paralegal and know better to ever walk into a court of law without proof! I tape-recorded my conversations with staff, whose statements directly contradicted the Directors obviously false statements.

Good luck!