Touching wasn't forbidden in the book, was it?
Maybe it's just a special movie rule, and because of that, the movie Elrond has an excuse for just standing and yelling.
If my memory serves me correctly (< /Iron Chef! >) book-Gandalf did touch the Ring at least once, I think he picked up the Ring after Bilbo dropped it, put it in the envelope, sealed the envelope, and then put it on the mantle. But I think that's the only time Gandalf touched the Ring in the book. I'm pretty sure I'm right, 'cause after my first viewing of the movie I went back to the book to check on that... I actually preferred the movie version where Gandalf refused to touch the Ring.