7.1 Bacteria, etc.

Since Legionnaires’ disease hit the headlines in the mid-1970s, librarians have been increasingly concerned about the spread of harmful bacteria in their workplace. The possibility of an influenza pandemic, such as that which struck in 1918–1919, contributes to the fear of illness contracted on the job. While HVAC systems can be implicated in the transmission of disease, they are not the only culprits. HVAC strongly influences air quality, but does not control it completely.

Patrons bring more to a library than reference questions and the desire for good fiction. They carry colds and flu. On a single shift, a children’s librarian can be exposed to dozens of careless coughs and sneezes. It takes strong rearing to teach a child to cover his or her mouth before sneezing, and some people never learn. Reference and circulation desk staff can be equally vulnerable to sick patrons.

While many librarians take time off to recover from the colds that they contract, others insist on showing up to work. The latter contribute to poor indoor air quality and the continuation of the flu season at their workplaces. At present, in many libraries, staff members who refuse to stay home with their infectious illnesses are praised for their dedication. Eventually, however, their managers might decide to protect uninfected staff by insisting that cold and flu sufferers take time off. Ridding the workplace of airborne pathogens is an obvious way to reduce absenteeism.

Some patrons wear perfumes and lotions that librarians find offensive. The recent popularity of “attack perfumes” has given rise to a number of complaints from staff at libraries, especially in downtown cores. The odor of these perfumes can linger in stack aisles and reference areas for hours after their wearers have departed. Some librarians consider the odor nauseous. Unsure how to deal with it, they will often wait for it to dissipate rather than lodge a complaint or call for assistance from property managers.

Not all scents are intended to please. Libraries occasionally attract patrons whose inadequate hygiene results in unpleasant body odor. Most librarians are unsure of how to deal with a foul-smelling patron, and will not act until other patrons complain. Asking a person to leave the library because she does not bathe regularly is an unpleasant task. That person might take offense, and a librarian’s sympathy for homeless or otherwise unfortunate members of society makes the situation even more difficult.

7.2 Reactions

The effects of bad air quality in libraries can be divided into three broad categories. First, there are mild reactions, including red and tearing eyes, dry skin on scalp, face and hands, and fatigue or sleepiness. These reactions can become chronic, and are exacerbated by outdoor pollutants and stress. Librarians will often accept such minor irritants as “part of the job.”

Second, there are allergic reactions. These include rhinitis that leads to a runny nose and sinus congestion, along with more advanced irritation of the eyes. More severe skin rashes similar to eczema are also associated with allergic reactions. Sufferers note that their symptoms become less severe when they leave their workplace; when they go on holiday, their symptoms can disappear altogether. Bad air quality is frequently identified as a problem in the library by staff members who, on returning to work after a holiday, experience a recurrence of allergic reactions.

Third, there are reactions that resemble and feel like influenza: fever, aching muscles, and chills. In many cases, these reactions are triggered by airborne microorganisms that ventilation filters fail to catch. Toxic mold is a potential cause of flu-like reactions, and has been implicated in more serious cases of respiratory infection.

Any reaction to bad air can include headaches, throat irritation, and asthmatic symptoms. Numerous reports in medical literature and popular media indicate an increase in asthma among adults, especially those who work in dusty environments. Any of these reactions can lead to decreased concentration and substandard performance of duties. After all, it is hard to read fine print and answer reference questions when one's eyes will not stop watering and one's headache keeps coming back.

7.3 Improvements

Improving a library’s indoor air quality involves several steps. The first is the investigation of the HVAC system. Technical specialists should examine all HVAC components and their documentation, particularly service and maintenance records. Often an investigation will uncover weaknesses such as worn-out parts, faulty installation, and clogged filters. Sometimes the system needs simple repairs and replacement of parts, but there is always the chance that a new HVAC system is necessary. Administrators fear the expense, but can justify it on the basis of occupational health and safety requirements. The alternative is to tolerate deteriorating air quality, increasing absenteeism, declining job satisfaction, and lower productivity.

The second step is to assess other potential causes of poor air quality, including toxic mold, inadequate janitorial service, unacceptable levels of sanitation, and dust build-ups in storage areas. It is important to acknowledge all possible contributors to air quality problems, and not to underestimate them. Remember that unhealthy airborne agents are often invisible to the naked eye.

Interviewing staff members about their air quality concerns is the next step. Often they will make useful observations on the air quality in their workspaces, and suggest ways to improve it. They might also complain of illnesses arising from bad air. Objectivity demands that we try to separate those symptoms that are undoubtedly connected to high levels of dust from symptoms that are more likely due to the sufferer’s heavy smoking habit or lack of exercise. It is difficult to determine with absolute certainty the cause of any symptom, and in a number of cases we will be forced to rely on a staff member’s assurance that a particular HVAC deficiency has resulted in her headaches and sore throat.

7.4 Welcome to the Caribbean

Having gleaned the necessary information from staff members, the library can develop a strategy to improve its indoor air quality. Substantial changes might be required, and administrators should consider ways to justify them. (In one case in the United States, the director of a public library threatened to sue city hall unless a new HVAC system was installed in her library. She complained of increasing asthmatic symptoms, and promised to tell her story to the media. City hall quietly replaced the HVAC system and sent the director on a holiday to the Caribbean. She returned in good health, and remains free of asthma.)

Other parts of the strategy might include enhancement of janitorial service and more frequent cleaning of rugs, moisture remediation to destroy mold, and removal of dust-gathering waste such as old papers, boxes, and furniture. To increase air circulation in specific workspaces, small fans can be installed wherever staff members need them.

As for malodorous patrons, they must always be treated courteously, but the library can set firm policies regarding body odor and heavy perfume. Following the lead of hospitals, some libraries post signs announcing “perfume-free zones.” If patrons bristle at the suggestion that their expensive scent is unacceptable, librarians can point out that not even the director is permitted to wear perfume in the library.

Diplomacy is essential when dealing with patrons whose body odor is noisome. Some librarians give them the address of a nearby community center or YMCA where they can shower cheaply or for free. In other cases, librarians have called for assistance from local social workers or shelters for the homeless, who are familiar with the patron and his or her circumstances.

Libraries are among the most heavily used facilities in the world. In workspaces that are open to the public and in constant need of mechanical maintenance and cleaning, air quality problems are bound to occur. There are effective solutions, but they must be renewed and adapted to meet new challenges. They don’t give those perfumes brand names such as “Poison” for nothing.