Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Posted by Karen

Posted by browneyedgirl

everything in the world has germs. absolutely everything.

we borrow 5-10 books a week and i'm starting a lasting tradition for my kids and teaching them to love books and reading. and that's a healthy thing.

Message edited 6/4/2012 10:39:01 AM.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

This is ridiculous.

And FYI, have you SEEN a major book store's kid's department? Yes, the books are "new" but plenty of people have touched them, wiped boogers on them, etc.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

yes we do and insanely, i wipe all the books down with disinfectant wipes before i let my DD touch them. that includes all the pages.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Never really thought about it but 'dirty' or not, I would still take out library books for myself and DD. Not like I'm going to have her lick and eat the pages or anything. Germs are everywhere. Nothing you can do about it. At least with a library book, there's a good chance NOT every kid in the library has touched it. Unlike all those balls and toys at those gymboree type places that every kid has drooled, chewed, coughed and sneezed on .

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

I LOOOOOOOOVE the library!!!! I don't really worry about germs because I think that the library has SO much to offer my DD in terms of books, media, etc. and that far outweighs a few germs on the pages or on the CD-ROM. Germs are everywhere!!!...........you cannot escape them so why bother trying??!! Aside from the fact that germs are good for you to some degree, without them you would have a pretty cr@ppy immune system unable to fight off real infections.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

I take my kids to the library each week and we pick out several books to take home. I never gave it a second thought. I am no germiphobe at all. Never even crossed my mind!

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

and pardon the pun, but don't most germs have a shelf-life?

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Hmmmm, never really thought about it.

I went to the library a lot as a child. I was never abnormally sick. i think once you're in school, germ exposure will be everywhere. I also think the germs have to die after awhile, no? sharing toys, books, desks, food, etc at school has to be much more germy.

That said, I haven't been to a public library since high school. And I'm 33 now. I went to my college library and law library, so that's pretty much the same.

My kids haven't been to a library yet because the books are so cheap right now and they read them over and over and over again until they are destroyed. they write in them, color them, smear their food on them. i can't imagine borrowing good night moon or something like that. i also have a bad habit of buying all my books for myself. i love having my own home library. it's a waste, though. i know that. i'm onto the kindle for myself now, and hoping that i can borrow e-books soon.

if i was a SAHM and there was a library hour for toddlers/story time type thing at my local library, i would go.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

seriously, i think gymboree/little gym type places are way worse with germs! my kids get colds when we go to those places but I don't think they ever got a cold from a library book. i'm an elementary school SLP and the teachers and I are shocked when the kindergarteners say they aren't familiar with the public library. my children are insatiable bookworms and they go nuts if we aren't at a library at least 1x per week. the other day at Target my DD1 said she would rather look at the books than freely browse the toy aisles.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Posted by bicosi

Posted by Karen

Posted by browneyedgirl

everything in the world has germs. absolutely everything.

we borrow 5-10 books a week and i'm starting a lasting tradition for my kids and teaching them to love books and reading. and that's a healthy thing.

AMEN!

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Today I have heard everything. I am glad I don't think like the OP's DH, I would be miserable. My son asks me everyday to go to the library. He loves it - no amount of germs would ever let me deprive him of the library.

Re: Do you borrow library books? Do you consider them dirty?

Posted by ME75

now i've heard it all on here! i'm a librarian-so i guess this surprises me....but then again, yes there are SOME books that are gross and i do admit that i take the newer nicer books out most of the time.

i can't imagine going to the library and refusing my DD/DS a book. oh and if they are gross you can wipe the ones with a mylar jacket down with an antibacterial wipe. at the library i worked at the workers had to clean off the jackets as a job.