A Librarian’s Tragic Death Sparks Fear
In 1895, Jessie Allan, a librarian in Omaha, died of tuberculosis. Her death fueled fears that contaminated library books could spread deadly diseases like tuberculosis and scarlet fever. This panic, known as the “great book scare,” gripped the public in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Experiments and Extreme Measures
During the scare, libraries resorted to disinfecting books using formaldehyde, steam, or even burning them. Some experiments exposed guinea pigs to supposedly infected pages, resulting in deaths that reinforced public fears. Despite this, scientists found little evidence linking books to disease transmission.
Legislation and Public Response
Britain and the U.S. passed laws prohibiting sick individuals from borrowing books, while some libraries suspended lending entirely. Public health campaigns and librarian advocacy gradually calmed fears, though suspicion of books persisted into the 1940s.
In 1895, Jessie Allan, an Omaha librarian, died of tuberculosis, sparking fears her illness came from library books. This occurred during the "great book scare," when contaminated books were suspected of spreading diseases like tuberculosis and scarlet fever. pic.twitter.com/6QIZSpUZEj
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