Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-23
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
And PURLIC LIBRARIES


Is happily dying OUT, IL is not Surrfls-
ing that many people should ask them-
selves as TO the danger. or the pos
aihility Of the danger, of disease being
carried 10 the books OF our Free
Library. The fact that the circulation
of books for November last was greater
than for any November in tLe history
OF the library does not indicate that
this fear ia general. Some, however,
have expressed their fears to the libra.
rian: doubtless there are other Huch in
the community. The report which fol
lows was read by q. NJ. JONES' then and
now librarian of the Public Library at
Salem, Mass, before the San Fran
cieco Conference Of the American
Library Association, held in 1891.
Since that time the matter has not
been discussed In the meetings of tho
American Library Association; nor has
il been mentioned in the Library
journal, the official organ Of the A. Il.
A. This certainly is significant. The
report follows:
DR.. W. Il. Poole, at that time libra
rian of the Chicago Public Library,
read a paper on this subject at the
Boston Conference OF the American
Library Association in 1879 giving
special attention TO the opinions of
medical men as to the danger of con-
tagion.
10 compiling the present report for
the conference of 1891, have APP
preached the subject from the opposite
side, that Of the actual experiences Of
libraries, and precautions adopted. To
get at the facts, | sent a circular con-
tanning seven questions to G6 repre-
sentative librarians of the United
AAak GonnIo ERnland anil Gonf nd
(62 American and IA foreign), to which
have received 90 replies Alb Ameri-
can, nine foreign). In eight cases the
librarians had no experience bearing
on the subject, or the replies were not
in such form as to admit of tabulation,
although / have sometimes made quo
tRtions from them.
The Al other replies are summarized
as follows:
Have you any reason to think that
disease has been carried by books de.
livered from your library?
Three do not answer; 30 say mo. "
The following extract from the reply
of Mr.. X. A. Linderfelt, Milwaukee,
Public Library, is an expression OF the
general tone of the replies: For my
own part, / do not believe that any
serious danger Of carrying contagion by
means of library books exists, but
there are in every community quite 6
number OF persons who feel nervous or
this subject. and for their sake il il
we'll to take svery reasonable pre-
caution.
MIR. j. Schwartz, New York Ap
prentices' Library, says: my opinion,
founded on an experience of % years,
is that contagious diseases are moi
thr0ttoh tho rirntlation al
hooks from libraries. In my experience
never heard of any reader to whom {
disease was communicated through
book loaned by the library. and whit
the attendants at the desks handled
hundreds OF thousands OF hooks every
year-which had bean circulated amonl
all parts OF the city and suburbs Their
hae been only one case where any o
the library employees was even sick OF
contagious disease. This case occurred
about 81 years ago, and from the cir
cumstances attending IL, could no
havebeep contracted at the library.
Mrs. NJ. G. Norton, assistant libra
rian of the Minneapolis publc Library
sage; 1--WE have had but one cas-
brought to our notice where it wa
claimed by the family that the poiso
was carried to them through hook
from the library, but that was MGR
conjecture. !"
Miss Ellen NJ. Coe. librarian of th
New York Free Circulating Library
anys: 1.-THE only case Of infectio
known 10 US in the 10 years since W
opened our library is one where
somewhat alarming ucerous ski
disease attacked one of the librarians
this was plainly from the soiled boo
covers. Y
What means are adopted to prever
the spread of contagious diseases?
Have you any special arrangement
with health officers?
The most general plan adopted
that mentioned by DIR. Poole ut II
close of his article tLibrary Journ
Y. 4, p. 2G2l and which may be Gale
''tbe Chicago plan. -
This h 8s follows: The health offic,
notifies the libary of all cases Of col
tagious disease, and books are n,
loaned to residents in such hous
until notice iH received that all dang
is passed. All books returned whiC
have been exposed to infection are di
infected or destroyed before they a
placed on the shelves Of the library.
Twenty-three librarians report th
this plan is regularly followed 10 ii
IL Ono Citft lubFd uBlnR
efficient Board Of Health, an arrang
ment has been made with the ph
5icians to report direct to the librar
and one library receives reports fro
either health officers or physician
Another librarian says Health Office
sometimes report.o Seven denend
report from the book borrower. Eey
report no special arrangement, and OF
says: when there il an epidemic
stop circulation. In several caseg h
regulations Of tho library contain
clause requiring notification from I
reader. The following from the b
laws of the Chicago Public Library
sample Of such regulations: g
shall be the duty OF all persons havi
the privileges OF the library to mott
the librarian of the exiBtence nf O
contagious disease in their residenc
or families, and for failure 10 do
their privileges may be declared I,
feited by the board" One libraris
who followed "the Chicago plan"
three years, reports: 1.-The coniuncti
OF books and contagious diseases BIT
pened so rarely, however, that the
ports wero finally discontinued. -
In six caseA special blanks use !
notification have been sent 10 Inc, a
some Librarians speak of notices viii
Hrs posted in the delivery room.
Do you disinfect books return
yourself, or is it done by the hea
authorities?
How is this done? By sulphur,
air, or otherwise?
Twelve librarians report that dis