Hi Everyone,
Yesterday’s blog was a bit later than usual. If you read it, and I hope you did, than you would know that I felt quite passionately about it. I was pissed off. To rid myself of that negativity I walked to the library. I wanted to return a DVD and get another one. The library was closed because as the sign said, it had a bed bug sighting. Well, that just pissed me off for hours. This is why.
First I was angry that there were bed bugs in the city library. I wasn’t surprised. I live in a city. What really ticked me off was the fact that someone with bed bugs went to the library and caused it to be closed! My being inconvenienced never crossed my mind. I was more upset for other people. Like the people who work at the library. Are they going to get paid for this? I hope so. And what about the little children who go there for story time. Don’t let the bed bugs bite could take on a new meaning for them.
Bed bugs are not easy to get rid of. They are a huge inconvenience. It takes a lot of time and money to get rid of them. It is embarrassing. People shame others. They are easily transportable. They can get on you from anywhere and you take them to your next destination. And the worst is that bed bugs have a great fear factor. No one wants them and anyone who does doesn’t want to talk about it. Because of the above, most people do not report having bed bugs. I thankfully am bed bug free.
The people who aren’t and know it are the ones everyone should be worried about. The reason is because public libraries are for everyone. The city I live in invests almost as much, and sometimes more, money into its library system per capita as the Toronto Public Libraries. Toronto has 101-104 libraries compared to New York with 85-87. The city I live in also renovates its four libraries all the time. If someone on council thinks our city would benefit from a new library, they budget for it and build one. They do this because libraries are a great investment.
People need to get information. It could be an analog, digital or audio book, a DVD, a CD, a magazine, computer help, Internet use, or one of the many children and/or adult programs. Those are things that every library in the city I live in provides. Some libraries, depending on the need, also do out-reach. The reason the libraries do this is because there is a direct correlation between the amount that is invested and the benefits to the citizens of the city.
A few years ago, the ratio was 1:7. That means for every dollar invested within the library system, the city gets back $7 per person via the education they have gained and the taxes from the employment they have secured. For a library to close for any length of time just throws the ratio off. Having the library de-bed bugged also costs money, which will hopefully not come out of the library budget. If it does, expect cut-backs.
Now I don’t want my tax dollars to be used to de-bed bug a library when it could be invested in books. I love books! That’s why I am so angry. Just the thought of someone who knew they had bed bugs and still went to the library will boil my blood for as long I live. I am serious. That to me is selfish, inconsiderate, and irresponsible!
There is one library that has spotted bed bugs 3 times! Yes, one library has been closed for weeks 3 times in the last 2 years because someone had bed bugs and thought that despite the inconvenience to everyone, the cost to the city to de-bed bug, and the fear it has created, that they were just above everyone else and continued to go to the library. Maybe their parents told them they were great when they weren’t, and well, aren’t.
There are people who just look out for themselves no matter what. Period. In my opinion, they should address all of their issues, bed bugs included. I also believe that if there is a way to prove that someone has brought bed bugs into a library, that they should be banned from the library and bear the costs. If anyone thinks that is harsh, think again. Once is enough. Especially if that person caused someone else thousands of dollars!
Here is a link to an episode of Doc Zone’s Bite Me: The Bed Bug Invasion. It is 45:12 minutes in length. I recommend watching hours before going to bed though. Just saying.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/Doc+Zone/ID/2418136659/
And if you want some information on how to get rid of them, here is a link to Bed Bug TV,
http://www.youtube.com/user/BedBugCentralTV
If you have bed bugs, please be responsible. Don’t go to the library, shopping, stay at a hotel, visit family or friends until you are rid of them. And if someone tells you they have bed bugs, don’t ostracize them. They already feel bad.
Thank you for reading, A. Rebel’s Rant! ;D
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