This document provides a summary of a presentation on identifying and treating bed bugs in libraries. It discusses that bed bugs are an issue for 97% of pest professionals and are often confused with other pests. It then outlines the steps to identify bed bugs in books and furniture using flashlights and magnifiers. If bed bugs are found, items are quarantined in ziploc bags and removed from the building. The library works with a pest control company to treat any infested items according to their health and safety policy.

1. Don’t let the Bed Bugs Bite! Bed
Bugs can bite libraries too! A step-
by-step guide for Identification and
Treatment of Bed Bugs in the
Library.
Presented by:
Jessica C. Garner
Georgia Libraries Conference October 2018

2. Bed Bug Awareness Week:
June 7-13, 2018
“The National Pest Management
Association (NPMA) released the findings of
its 2018 Bugs Without Borders research that
found 97 percent of pest professionals
treated for bed bugs in the past year and
more than half say summer is the busiest
time of year. The results also reveal just
how frequently bed bugs are confused with
other pests with 84 percent of pest control
professionals reporting being contacted to
treat another type of problem only to
discover bed bugs present instead.”
https://www.pestworld.org/multimedia-
center/infographics/2018-bed-bug-
awareness-week/

3. Summer of 2017: the summer of
the bedbug
Bedbug, by CDC, Public
domain, via wikimedia
commons

4. Identification of Bedbugs
Knox Pest Control of Statesboro, GA identifies a
bedbug located under a library chair.

5. Treatment of Bedbugs

6. We survived! now what?
Step 1:
I wrote the Identification and Treatment of Bed
Bugs in the Henderson Library policy and
procedure guide.

7. We survived! now what?
Step 2:
Trained all staff on how to identify and
quarantine any book, chair, or item that shows
any sign of bed bugs.

8. We survived! now what?
Step 3:
Each department that receives books including
Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Special
Collections, and Donations has a quarantine kit
that contains all supplies needed to identify and
quarantine any item showing signs of bed bugs.

9. Quarantine: Toolkit
LED/UV flashlight (+3 AA batteries)
Illuminated 3” magnifier (+2 AA batteries)
Extra heavy-duty Ziploc bags
Large trash bags
Latex gloves
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Spray bottle for the alcohol
extra airtight plastic tubs
Shrink wrap (stored in ARC bin: CIRC 1401)

10. Inspection
Books
1. Inspect the page edges.
2. Look inside the front and back Covers of the book
3. Look under the book jacket, at both the book and the cover
4. Use LED and UV Flashlight to inspect closely

11. Inspection: examples of Bed bug damage

12. Inspection: example of bed bug damage

13. Inspection
Furniture
1. Using LED & UV Flashlight Inspect the corners of the chair
cushion
2. Using Led & UV Flashlight Inspect the sides of the chair
cushion and back where the cushion meets the back.
3. Using LED & UV Flashlight Inspect under the chair

14. Inspection: furniture

15. Quarantine: Books
1. Place book in Heavy Duty Ziploc Bag
2. Write down patron name and 900 number or Community member account number.
3. Quarantine Books
Henderson Library Books: Check out to Bed Bug Patron Account. This is a Faculty/ Staff Account that will not
expire.
GIL Express Book: Check book out to Bed Bug Patron Account
Interlibrary Loan Books: Write down the ILL Number that is on the cover of the book.
1. Place book in airtight plastic tub for storing and transporting bagged material
2. Take airtight plastic tub out to the loading dock for inspection by Knox Pest Control.
3. Email Access Services Department Head that books have been identified as having Bed Bug. Include
Patron name and 900 number or Community Member account number. If there are any GIL Express
books or ILL books include those item numbers in this email.
4. Department Head will email the Dean of the Library. The Dean of the library will submit a work order to
Knox Pest Control to have the items treated.

16. Quarantine: Furniture
1. Wrap the chair with shrink wrap or place in a large trash bag.
2. Remove furniture from the building
3. Email Access Services Department Head that furniture has been identified as
having Bed Bug.
4. Department Head will email the Dean of the Library. The Dean of the library will
submit a work order to Knox Pest Control to have the items treated.

17. Treatment
Georgia Southern works closely with
Facilities and Knox Pest Control to
determine best course of action.

18. Zach S. Henderson Library’s Health
& Safety Policy
Suspension of Privileges for Health and Safety Reasons
It is the responsibility of the Zach S. Henderson Library to maintain a healthy and
clean environment for all library patrons. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the
Henderson Library may restrict a Community Members ability to borrow materials
and / or visit the Henderson Library facilities when such use may jeopardize the health
and cleanliness of Library facilities, collections, and users.

19. Questions?