We had a library Board member who never took books out. She was never allowed to do so as a child because her parents said there were too many "dirty" children and adults who touched those books and spread disease. I imagine she was born in the early 20th century. She would have loved this poster, but would never have cracked a smile.
In the early twentieth century in Britain people who'd had some illnesses in the house had to notify the library which burned any books that had been in the house in the infectious period. On the other hand, no-one stopped you selling your own books, no matter how many epidemics had raged around them.
And stay away from those monastic tomes with poisoned pages! This is priceless.
ReplyDeleteWe had a library Board member who never took books out. She was never allowed to do so as a child because her parents said there were too many "dirty" children and adults who touched those books and spread disease. I imagine she was born in the early 20th century. She would have loved this poster, but would never have cracked a smile.
ReplyDeleteIn the early twentieth century in Britain people who'd had some illnesses in the house had to notify the library which burned any books that had been in the house in the infectious period.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, no-one stopped you selling your own books, no matter how many epidemics had raged around them.