Infestation Prevention Training

OverviewWhere to Look?What to Look For?Physical Presence (dead or alive)How to InspectWhat to Do if Pests May be Present?Resources for More Information

 

OverviewThe introduction of insects and rodents that can damage books and bulding materials, with the possibility of also introducing diseases into the library space. Pests that can be damaging or a nuisance to library materials and building include bed bugs, cockroaches, silverfish, firebrats, psocids (booklice), beetles, termites, and rodents.

Pests can be introduced into a library environment in various ways including:

on personmaterials returned at Circulationmaterials borrowed from other librariesdonationsfood materialsbuilding entrances, doorways or other building entry points

Where to Look?Each department will have their own particular materials and areas to monitor. General guidelines include:

materials entering the buildingareas where the materials are stored or handledareas where food is stored or handledareas exposed to the outsidedark and moist areas

What to Look For?Signs of a pest presence or infestation can include:

frass (excrement)material damagephysical presence (dead or alive)

Frass (excrement)

Pests can leave traces of their presence through frass (droppings or debris). Frass may look like miniature mouse droppings, insect eggs, powder or black spots. Frass can also permanently stain paper and bookbindings.

Signs to look for:

dark or light frass on paper or bindingdark pelletsdiscolored paper or materials

Where to look:

within book pages or bindingdark, warm and moist areas

Examples

The following Infestation Prevention training is intended to introduce staff and student assistants to identify possible pest infestation problems and share with appropriate staff. The appropriate staff will follow up with the Valley Library Infestation Prevention Policy & Procedures and department guidelines.

Bed Bug Frass

http://www.slideshare.net/isl_pdo/

bed-bugs-how-to-protect-your-library-from-infestation

 Furniture Beetle Frass

 http://blogs.bl.uk/collectioncare/2013/08/

the-bookie-monster-attack-of-the-creepy-crawlies.html

Material Damage

Pests can physically damage library materials by chewing on them or staining by frass. 

Signs to look for:

discolored paper or materialsobviously chewed parts - ragged edges or channelspaper powder

Where to look:

outside book coverwithin book pages or bindingbook damage showing multiple light patches on book cloth surfaces and ragged edges on paper leavesholes, spots, stains

Examples

Book Beatle

http://library.manoa.hawaii.edu/departments/preservation/pests.php

Silverfish   

 

Carpenter Ant

 http://www.pctonline.com/article/termite-damaged-book-henry-fox/

 

Physical Presence (dead or alive)Signs to look for:

dark spots or stains on the pages where they may have gotten crushedpysical presence on books or in the librarymay also be present as larvae

Where to look:

within book pages or bindingin areas where books are returned from outside the libraryareas exposed to the outsidedark and moist areas

Examples

Bed Bug

https://www.terminix.com/blog/diy/

signs-your-room-has-bed-bugs

Cockroach

https://thecutecountrychick.com/2015/05/11/

fettuccine-alfredo-with-a-side-order-of-cockroach/

 

 

Cockroach Eggs

https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/cockroaches/

Silverfish and Firebrat

http://www.howtobuildahouseblog.com/

the-best-way-to-get-rid-of-silverfish/

1. a. b. c. d. e.

f.

2.

Psocids (booklice)

http://bugguide.net/node/view/604684/bgpage

Ground Beetle

Termites Rodents

http://bloompestcontrol.com/portland-pest-control/rat-and-mouse-control/

How to InspectAlways be observant in areas where items are returned or delivered, are exposed to the outside, dark and damp areas, or where food is locatedQuickly check items being returned or delivered for signs of infestation

scan the outsidequickly thumb through the pages of booksopen up containers

If you think you have found signs of infestation, report to a staff member to help determine if further action is needed

What to Do if Pests May be Present?

if staff or student employees are showing signs of entomophobia, remove them from the infested Caution:area.

Isolate (infestation supplies should be quickly available in your work area)put gloves on (do not check in any items)Inspect and Isolate. Determine the size of the area where the infestation was found and the items involvedwatch for insects scattering away from the area you are inspecting or cleaningif an insect speciman is found, try to place in a sealed plastic bag for identificationplace (books and shipping bags) in plastic bags (squeeze out extra air and seal to keep insects from getting away and to protect contents from condensation if frozen.)place caution tape around the area involved to quarantine (if necessary)

Notify Library Maintenance ( ) and your supervisor. Staff should library.maintenance@oregonstate.edurefer to Valley Library Infestation Prevention Policy & Procedures.

Resources for More Information

If the items are shipped to the library, note the shipping time of arrival and who the courier was.

Pest Control - Library Preservation and Conservation. Cornell University - https://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/librarypreservation/mee /management/pestcontrol.html

Major Pests of Libraries (UNESCO) - http://www.unesco.org/webworld/ramp/html/r8820e/r8820e03.htm