The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-26
LIBRARY CLEANED
AND DISINFECTED
Reopens Tomorrow After
Being Closed From
Smallpox Scare.
Books to Be Returned Will
Be Fumigated Before
Used.

Accompanying announcement of the
Teopening of the Public Library tomor-
row morning, the health officer OF the
District and the librarian have issued a
statement showing the many precau-
tons taken for the protection of the
public from contagious diseases.
A statement concerning the one case
Of smallpox there is made as follows:
Carl 2. Wiz, assistant librarian. who
Is now recovering from smallpox. was
last at the library somewhat over two
weeks ago. Since he was there the
library has been carefully Gisinfected
and thoroughly cleaned and aired. The
employees have all been vacCinated and
kept under continued observation by in
spectors in the employ Of the Health
Department The ordinary incubation
period of smallpox mas passed and none
OF the other employees has developed
the disease.
Disinfect Books.
although there Is no likelihood that
any of the books that were taken cut
of the Library before it was closed are
Infected, yet. as a matter of precaG-
ton, arrangement has been made
whereby all books returned 10 the Ii
brary viii be disinfected before being
re-issued- The Health Officer states
that he has never had any reason TO
believe that any disease has been con-
tracted through the Public Library
either among the employees or among
those using it for reference purposes Or
by drawing books for home reading.
il is interesting 90 note that even in
the case of the assistant librarian. who
is now sick, the disease was contracted
in Illinois, not in the District OF Co
lUmbia and not in the Library.
Attention is also called TO the pre-
ventivc measures in constant operation
at the library to guard against the
spread OF contagious diseases by library
books For more than three years the
Health Department, at the request Of
the librarian, has been sending daily
reports of all new cases Of contagious
disease. If there is anyone living at
the address Of a person having a con-
tagiOus disease who is registered as
having library privileges, word is at
once sent forbidding the return of books
until the health inspectors certify that
the books have been properly disinfect-
ed. The librarian has also authorized
library books found in infected houses,
whenever II seems wise to take such
action in the interest of the public
health.
Free From Germs.
From the foregoing record 1t may
with justice be claimed that the Public
Library building is probably at the
present time the freest from disease
germs of any public building IN the
city and also that the measures regular
" IT operation at the library are such
is 10 reduce the chance of ContagiOn
through library books TO the minimum.
THE Public Library is being besieged
by letters and telephone inquiries as 10
che payment Of fines on books falling
due since the library has been closed.
In response TO these many inquiries IL
IS stated that no fines whatever Will be
collected on books now in circulation
until after February ]. Persons who
return their library books next week
viii not be required 10 uav fines