This article from The Olympian (WA) analyzes the growing trend of homeless patrons in the library in the afternoon, waiting til the shelters open up to house them for the evening. Most read books like other patrons, but some are aggressive and belligerent and have caused librarians to call for assistance, sometimes more than once in one day. Since late September, police have been called 40 times to the library.
The librarians cite problems with the lack of options for the homeless, and have asked for a meeting with police to attempt to resolve the issue. Olympia police Officer Cori Schumacher said the issue isn’t new.
“They’ve all been very patient people and all been very kind and for them to come to the end of their ropes — it’s been a long time coming,” she said.
Patient Don’t Even Cover It
I worked at this library for two years. Why this is suddenly news is completely beyond me. It’s been a problem for longer than six years, and I think calling staff there “patient” is a vast and yawning understatment. They have been saints, dealing with nasty, smelly, demanding homeless patrons whose sense of entitlement was enhanced by the “ALA approved” liberal management– “oh, we can’t throw them out even though they’re harassing the staff, pissing on the chairs, and doing drugs in the restrooms. This is a public library and they’re the public.” Apparently we weren’t entitled to a safe, clean, needle-free workplace? And patrons can do whatever the hell they want even though it makes everyone else uncomfortable, sick, or even put them in danger? This meeting between police and the librarians needed to happen five years ago, when police wouldn’t even respond to the library’s calls– “What could possibly be happening at the library?” It’s a sign that the management seem to finally be taking the problems seriously. Good for them.
Re:Patient Don’t Even Cover It
Really, can you provide the statement by the ALA, or any liberal management that “harassing the staff, pissing on the chairs, and doing drugs…” is acceptable behavior in the workplace? I’ve worked in libraries for over 20 years, and we have never accepted any of the above. Oh, and I’m very liberal. Of course, this is all behavior that is exhibited by our non-homeless patrons as well. Including smelliness. That is the one thing that I do have a problem dealing with, since it is hard to gauge what level of odor is acceptable, and what level of odor is not. The majority of my homeless patrons are very polite, and only wish to be left alone and in peace. Being homeless is not a crime. Enforcing well defined and delineated policies regarding behaviors, regardless of the patrons’ status, should not be a problem.