Warning: You may have checked out more than just a couple of books at the Downtown OKC library.
Last night, the Metropolitan Library System gave local bookworms an itchy surprise when they announced that the downtown library closed early due to a body lice infestation.
As expected, the library handled the situation with courtesy and professionalism.
“Today, the Downtown Library closed at 11:30 a.m. after body lice were discovered in a staff area of the building. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately initiated professional pest control treatment of the entire facility.”
Yikes! And here you thought a smashed booger was the grossest thing you'd find in a library book.
If you ask me, the biggest shock here isn’t the lice—it's that they were discovered in a staff area, and not on the internet computer chairs, in the entomology section, or wherever they keep the old microfiche.
Seriously though—way to throw your unbathed, underpaid staff under the bus.
For scientific purposes, I reached out to the Ogle Mole Network to investigate whether the lice arrived naturally or were part of a leak at the EMBARK bus station. They told me neither, and that health inspectors believe it to be a classic case of cross-contamination. If that’s true, I think I know the source…
Yep, you heard it here first. Judith Matthews is probably the source of the outbreak. Probably.
Anyway, if you know Judith – or you’re a nerd who recently visited the library – the MLS wants you to know the chances of catching body lice are still extremely low. Sure, that’s still probably too high, but whatever.
The health and safety of our guests and staff is our top priority. All areas of the building are being thoroughly treated, and we expect to reopen tomorrow as scheduled.
While the risk to the public is extremely low, we want to be transparent and share this information as part of our commitment to guest safety. If you visited the Downtown Library recently and have concerns, you can learn more about body lice—like what to look for and how to respond—at the CDC website here.
Serious question: how do you eliminate body lice from a library? Do all the librarians get together and run combs through books? Shave the covers of all magazines? Wash the Dewey Decimal System with special shampoo? I need answers, please!
Anyway, although the library is now apparently clean of lice, I think I’d probably hold off on visiting for at least a couple of more days. You know, in case there are still some body lice slackers hanging around and looking for a host, or on the off-chance a pack of scabies moves in to replace them.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
