Don’t microwave books: Here are safe ways to use the library in coronavirus pandemic

A library customer put a book in the microwave in an attempt to kill the coronavirus, officials say.

That’s not a good idea.

The Kent District Library in Michigan posted photos last week of a scorched book burned in a microwave.

“The radio frequency tags in all (Kent District Library) materials have metal in them,” a Facebook post said. “They will catch on fire in the microwave.”

The library says it quarantines books for 72 hours after they’re returned to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on materials.

“I don’t know if it was something that they saw on the news — that they thought maybe the heat would kill COVID-19,” Elizabeth Guarino-Kozlowicz, regional manager of Kent District Library, told the Detroit Free Press.

Other libraries also are quarantining books for at least three days because the materials will be damaged with common disinfectants such as bleach.

“Cleaning library materials at home may damage them, especially popular treatments like bleach or heat,” the Johnson County Library in Kansas says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a few safety tips for using the library:

• Order books online and use curbside pickup if possible.

• Try digital materials instead of print.

• Disinfect electronics and library materials in plastic containers such as CDs and audio books.

• Wipe down computers if you’re allowed to go inside the library.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Don’t microwave books: Here are safe ways to use the library in coronavirus pandemic."