"Frankly, most of our books have been well-used and well-appreciated," said Rhoda Goldberg, director of the Harris County Public Library system in Houston. "They don't last 24 years."

Also, the lead is contained only in the type, not in the illustrations, according to Allan Adler, vice president for legal and governmental affairs for the Association of American Publishers.

This seems like a non-issue unless someone is letting their baby teethe on the books.

Maybe I should make up a bumper sticker that says, "My children and grandchildren survived my home library!"