NCompass Live - Feb. 1, 2017 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/ Yes, bed bugs can be found in a library. Libraries are not favorable environments for bed bugs to thrive, but they can hide in jackets, backpacks, and books. Jody Green from the Lancaster County Extension Office will discuss their life cycle and how to identify symptoms of infestations. Lincoln City Library staff, Julie Beno and Katie Murtha, will discuss how to recognize signs of bed bugs in the library and what steps to take if they are found.

1. EGAD!
Bed Bugs in the Library?
Dr. Jody Green, Nebraska Extension
Julie Beno, Lincoln City Libraries
Katie Murtha, Lincoln City Libraries
January 31, 2017
Hurrah for Nebraska! The land of the free,
The land of the bed bug, grasshopper, and flea.
~ lyric from Staving to Death on My Government Claim

2. Today’s agenda
Short video
The lifespan and history of
the Bed Bug
Challenges for Libraries
Policies and procedures
Staff training
Pictures

3. Bed bugs and Libraries!

4. Jody Green
Everything you need
to know about
Bed Bugs

5. Are you ITCHING yet?
 2012: Customer asked if a person could get
bedbugs from books
 2014: First introduction not infestation
 We took the first book to the Extension office
for bug identification.
 Bed Bug Committee at Bennett Martin Public
Library formed

6. Challenges for Libraries
 Policy considerations
 Providing training and determining best
practices for staff
 Treating materials
 Determining workflow procedures and
notifying customers
 Providing information for the public

7. Policy Considerations
Dealing with customers and bed bug
damaged items:
◦ Discard or treat the materials?
◦ How to contact customer?
◦ Ban from using the library?
◦ Ban personal belongings?
◦ Require proof of treatment for reinstatement?

8. Staff Training
All staff should be trained:
 To identify bed bugs and bed bug damage
 To know & follow workflow procedures
 To know what to say to the public
 To prevent transporting bed bugs home from
the workplace
 To protect themselves if bed bugs are found
in the workplace:
◦ Tumble dry clothes on high heat (125° F or above)
for 30 minutes or more. Contact County Extension
for directions.
◦ Clothes that require dry cleaning should be kept in
a plastic sealable bag until dry cleaning.

9. Workflow Considerations
 Inspect materials and identify bed bugs or
damage at check in
 Determine if obviously damaged or
suspected as damaged
 Quarantine and treat materials
 Charge customer and place holds for
outstanding items on customer’s account
 Contact customer
 Post treatment inspection – discard or
return to collection?

10. Treating Materials & Equipment
Purchases
 Equipment needed for treatment:
◦ Heat treatment
Oven: 7 hours at 113° F
◦ Freeze treatment
Freezer: 4 days at 0°F
◦ Lots of Ziploc bags
& latex gloves!!
◦ Clorox wipes

11. Dogs? In the Library?
 Spots, the bed bug sniffing dog-quarterly
◦ Bag identified materials immediately- we put in
freezer
◦ Move furniture out of building-bag or wrap if
possible

12. Providing Information to
Customers
 Draft and publish FAQs:
◦ How is the library addressing the threat of bed
bugs?
◦ What if I return library materials that are found
to contain bed bugs or evidence of bed bugs?
◦ Where can I find more information on bed
bugs?

13. Examples

15. Bed Bug?

16. Julie searching! Thank you
County Extension Office

17. Bed Bug Feces and Blood

18. Not Visible with Naked Eye

19. Final Thoughts & Questions?
 We hire a bed bug sniffing dog quarterly
 We go to other branches and train staff
 We attend training sessions on bed bugs
 Stay calm and everything will be OK!

20. Presenters
 Dr. Jody Green
◦ Nebraska Extension Educator | Urban Entomologist
◦ jgreen17@unl.edu
◦ 402-441-7180
 Julie Beno
◦ Library Coordinator, Lincoln City Libraries
◦ J.beno@lincolnlibraries.org
◦ 402-441-8535
 Katie Murtha
◦ Librarian, Lincoln City Libraries
◦ K.murtha@lincolnlibraries.org
◦ 402-441-8592
Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln, NE
lincolnlibraries.org