Dirty books

Mike L · 10-30-2009, 11:32 AM

I just visited my local public library -- for the first time in many months. I thought I'd get out a couple of printed books, just as a change from my Kindle.

What really struck me was how dirty many of the books were. I don't mean they were full of four-letter words; I mean the pages were really mucky.

I planned to take out a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, but it was covered in -- at best -- coffee stains and odd remnants of the previous reader's lunch, and -- at worst -- well, I don't like to think about it.

To think that I used to put up with that kind of thing. Not any more. It's back to the screen for me.

kennyc · 10-30-2009, 11:43 AM

Another plus for ebooks -- better hygiene!

desertgrandma · 10-30-2009, 12:21 PM

Spending time in doctor's offices.......all those magazines laying around........all those people licking their fingers then turning pages, sneezing on them..(shudder)..........I love my Kindle......

(and darn.......I thought I was opening a really interesting thread!)

mores · 10-30-2009, 12:33 PM

Now immagine how dirty dirty books get ...

GeoffC · 10-30-2009, 01:32 PM

^^^^^^ well thumbed ^^^^^^

BookishDreamer · 10-30-2009, 05:15 PM

I learned the hard way to open library books and give them a shake before reading. A couple of years ago, I got settled into bed, picked up a library book I'd gotten earlier that day, and opened it. Grains of sand fell out as I turned the pages. Somebody must have taken it to the beach or into a sandbox. Had to strip my bed and remake it because of the grit that fell onto my sheets after just a couple of pages. Took the book back to the library the next day and recommended that they vacuum it before reshelving it.

Oh, and living in the land of mosquitoes, it's always interesting to flip the page and find the remains of a little bloodsucker.

Dreamer

kindlekitten · 10-30-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

I just visited my local public library -- for the first time in many months. I thought I'd get out a couple of printed books, just as a change from my Kindle.

What really struck me was how dirty many of the books were. I don't mean they were full of four-letter words; I mean the pages were really mucky.

I planned to take out a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, but it was covered in -- at best -- coffee stains and odd remnants of the previous reader's lunch, and -- at worst -- well, I don't like to think about it.

To think that I used to put up with that kind of thing. Not any more. It's back to the screen for me.

in all seriousness I remember an article fairly early on in Kindleland regarding what a boon ebooks are for allergy sufferers. apparently pbooks shelter dust, dustmites and other allergans very effectively, and obviously we are in a reasonably intimate position when reading so I imagine that makes it worse.

in somewhat silliness (cringeworthy?) I remember opening up library and classroom books and finding booggers in them. now, I can hunt and field dress a game animal intending for eating with no problem at all, but booggers in books are real retch and gag worthy

PKFFW · 10-30-2009, 06:38 PM

As a poor teen from a large family almost all my reading up until age 20 was done from the library.

One day, whilst reading a Feist book, I turned the page and found someone had picked their nose and left the smeared booger between the pages. Nearly made me add my puke to the book!!

That was the day I decided no matter what I would buy my own books from then on and I have never been back to a library since.

Cheers,
PKFFW

Latinandgreek · 10-30-2009, 06:55 PM

I've seen booger many a time in library books. My most disgusting experience was finding a wad of hair.

Barcey · 10-31-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I've seen booger many a time in library books. My most disgusting experience was finding a wad of hair.

Sorry about that. I read in the nude and I was shedding.

daffy4u · 10-31-2009, 01:58 AM

I don't recall ever having any kind of dramatic experience with library books (it's been years since I checked out a book). I am now officially traumatized by this thread and will never check out another library book. Gross-ola!

GeoffC · 10-31-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I don't recall ever having any kind of dramatic experience with library books (it's been years since I checked out a book). I am now officially traumatized by this thread and will never check out another library book. Gross-ola!

^^^^^^^^
me too .......
^^^^^^^^

kennyc · 10-31-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I don't recall ever having any kind of dramatic experience with library books (it's been years since I checked out a book). I am now officially traumatized by this thread and will never check out another library book. Gross-ola!

Ebook checkouts are much more health-conscious with less gross-out.

AprilHare · 10-31-2009, 08:46 AM

My local library had decommissioned a paperback copy of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged which I purchased for 20 Australian cents. 17 years old, a few tattered pages cleverly repaired with sticky tape, one or two minor stains, but in functional shape.
Why do people throw away or avoid books for mainly aesthetic reasons?

Mike L · 11-01-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I am now officially traumatized by this thread and will never check out another library book. Gross-ola!

I didn't mean to arouse such much hostility. But I'm beginning to feel the same way myself.

10-30-2009, 11:32 AM	#1
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Dirty books I just visited my local public library -- for the first time in many months. I thought I'd get out a couple of printed books, just as a change from my Kindle. What really struck me was how dirty many of the books were. I don't mean they were full of four-letter words; I mean the pages were really mucky. I planned to take out a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, but it was covered in -- at best -- coffee stains and odd remnants of the previous reader's lunch, and -- at worst -- well, I don't like to think about it. To think that I used to put up with that kind of thing. Not any more. It's back to the screen for me.

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10-30-2009, 11:43 AM	#2
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,876 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Another plus for ebooks -- better hygiene!

10-30-2009, 12:21 PM	#3
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Spending time in doctor's offices.......all those magazines laying around........all those people licking their fingers then turning pages, sneezing on them..(shudder)..........I love my Kindle...... (and darn.......I thought I was opening a really interesting thread!)

10-30-2009, 12:33 PM	#4
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	Now immagine how dirty dirty books get ...

10-30-2009, 01:32 PM	#5
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	^^^^^^ well thumbed ^^^^^^

10-30-2009, 05:15 PM	#6
BookishDreamer Cultural Artist Posts: 1,128 Karma: 12829 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Georgia Device: Sony 505, Kindle 2	I learned the hard way to open library books and give them a shake before reading. A couple of years ago, I got settled into bed, picked up a library book I'd gotten earlier that day, and opened it. Grains of sand fell out as I turned the pages. Somebody must have taken it to the beach or into a sandbox. Had to strip my bed and remake it because of the grit that fell onto my sheets after just a couple of pages. Took the book back to the library the next day and recommended that they vacuum it before reshelving it. Oh, and living in the land of mosquitoes, it's always interesting to flip the page and find the remains of a little bloodsucker. Dreamer

10-30-2009, 06:38 PM	#8
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,772 Karma: 31487152 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	As a poor teen from a large family almost all my reading up until age 20 was done from the library. One day, whilst reading a Feist book, I turned the page and found someone had picked their nose and left the smeared booger between the pages. Nearly made me add my puke to the book!! That was the day I decided no matter what I would buy my own books from then on and I have never been back to a library since. Cheers, PKFFW

10-30-2009, 06:55 PM	#9
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I've seen booger many a time in library books. My most disgusting experience was finding a wad of hair.

10-31-2009, 01:58 AM	#11
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I don't recall ever having any kind of dramatic experience with library books (it's been years since I checked out a book). I am now officially traumatized by this thread and will never check out another library book. Gross-ola!

10-31-2009, 08:46 AM	#14
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	My local library had decommissioned a paperback copy of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged which I purchased for 20 Australian cents. 17 years old, a few tattered pages cleverly repaired with sticky tape, one or two minor stains, but in functional shape. Why do people throw away or avoid books for mainly aesthetic reasons?

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