[yscon] Need advice - Lice and Libraries

Thu Aug 17 11:49:11 PDT 2017

I really like Jasmine’s suggestion! Also, I’d add that a library can’t get infested by lice. A louse can’t survive off a human head for more than 24 hours, and they don’t jump. So, it’s highly improbable that a library could “get lice.” Here’s a great myth list that you could share: https://www.ndhealth.gov/head-lice/publications/myths_and_facts.pdf
(Sadly, I’ve learned a lot about lice since my kids started school…)

So, my recommendation to the director would be to offer information and programming to the community in general, but not to bring it up with the family. Possibly also remove plush seating in the children’s room.

Now I’m itchy ;)

Best,
Christi

—
Christi Showman Farrar
Consultant, Massachusetts Library System
508-357-2121 x323
Toll free in MA: 866-627-7228 x323
christif at masslibsystem.org
http://www.masslibsystem.org

From: yscon <yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> on behalf of "Rockwell, Jasmine" <Jasmine.Rockwell at state.sd.us>
Date: Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 2:37 PM
To: "'Costley, Enid (LVA)'" <enid.costley at lva.virginia.gov>, yscon <yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [yscon] Need advice - Lice and Libraries

Nice pun Enid ;)

As for advice, the library could always try to put together a short program like “Back-To-School Bugs: Dealing with the common cold, lice, and other communicable diseases.” It could be filled with advice for parents & kiddos on prevention (nutrition, hand-washing, plenty of sleep) and how to deal with these illnesses or pests should their child contract one or more of these things. Have a local school nurse or other health professional (local hospital, DoH employee, etc.) come in and help out if the librarians don’t feel like they can present confidently on this. It sounds like this family or child are frequent visitors to the library so it’s likely that they would attend.

First thoughts off the top of my head without directly addressing the awkward.

Best,

Jasmine Rockwell
Children’s & Youth Services Coordinator
South Dakota State Library
800 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-5066

From: yscon [mailto:yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Costley, Enid (LVA)
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 7:42 AM
To: yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [EXT] [yscon] Need advice - Lice and Libraries

Well I am scratching my head over this one.

A library director asked about having a conversation with a parent about a child they think has lice.

·         The library does not have policy in place about lice.

·         Lice infection is not consider a health issue in Virginia.   The director has already contact the Department of Health to see if they had lice treatment kits which might be used – they do not.

·         I am will be contacting Head Start and my contact at Virginia Department of Health that is an expert on this topic to get some advice.

·         I suggested contacting a school nurse for advice on having a conversation with the parent.

As I see it there are three issues.

What to do to check that the Library is not infested and treatment.

Create a policy on dealing with these types of pests and the big question - should the public be alerted – should the patron be banned?

How to have the conversation with the parent and what should be said.  Knowing in this case the parent might not have the funds to purchase a kit.

This is the information I have gathered so far

This can happen to any library – in December it happened at the Library of Congress.
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/01/us/head-lice-infestation-found-in-library-of-congress-rooms.html

This is a common question that is asked by camp managers – the website here contain a sample let to the editor, links to CDC Library of Congress
American Camp Association – https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/lice-tips-camps

Youtube picture books story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_INKfBHfc0

Here is a sample wording from the Los Angeles Public Library
http://www.lapl.org/about-lapl/rules-conduct
1.       Patrons with hygiene conditions, including, but not limited to, clothing odor, body odor and lice, that interfere with the use and enjoyment of the library by other library patrons or with the functioning of library staff.

When looking a policy and procedures – this might be similar to bed bugs.
Bed Bug Protocol
https://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/administrators/Documents/Bed%20Bug%20Protocol.pdf

webinar on bedbug ( beware there are with pictures)
http://www.ala.org/pla/sites/ala.org.pla/files/content/onlinelearning/webinars/archive/PLA_Kittrell_Dont-let-the-bed-bugs-bite_Final.pdf

Wealth of help on the CT Library site on bedbugs
http://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld/help/bedbugs

Enid Costley
Children's and Youth Services Consultant
Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804.692.3765
enid.costley at lva.virginia.gov<mailto:enid.costley at lva.virginia.gov>

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