Food and Drink Policy Rationale
Food and drinks attract pests
Where there is food, insects and rodents will follow. Rats, mice, cockroaches, and silverfish find their way into the library through doors, windows, and cracks. Insect egg capsules can also be carried in on packaging, in the food itself, and in books returned after use. Once their initial food source is gone, these pests will literally chew up books and bindings (which are also organic). Their feces can pose a very significant health hazard to library users and staff.
There are no small accidents
The library is filled with a lot of absorbent stuff! Spills can leave permanent and unsightly stains, fuse glossy pages together, and the lingering dampness creates growing opportunity for various kinds of fungus. Mold spreads quickly; one infested book can seed spores through an entire collection in a short period of time. Even more serious, mold produces toxins and can have permanent, sometimes life-threatening, effects on the health of anyone handling the books.
Books vs. Bugs
It costs money to get a coffee stain out of upholstery or a carpet. Likewise repairing or replacing damaged books. Pest extermination can also be very expensive and may employ hazardous fumigation. Wouldn't you rather have your library spend its money on library materials and service improvements?
Prevention is the most successful, cost effective, and least toxic, method of providing a safe and clean environment for staff, patrons, and collections. Please help us preserve our library collection for the future generations of Oberlin students.