Librarians under attack? (drug, holidays, solutions, lobby)
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Kids are taught how to research for real information as early as Grade one in the school systems my kids went to. Most schools, even elementary provide all the 'appropriate' places to find information.
There are few high school research projects that would need the research information required for a college paper.
But it doesn't matter.......my comment was just a surprise that kids have their parents convinced they need to go to a library to get research done. wink wink.
The point -- it is sad that a library -- a fun place to browse for books, is not such a pleasant place to be when folks who aren't clean, smell and make us feel uncomfortable 'hang out' all day. Municipalities should address this issue and try to come up with strategies that reduce this uncomfortable experience.
Kids are taught how to research for real information as early as Grade one in the school systems my kids went to. Most schools, even elementary provide all the 'appropriate' places to find information.
There are few high school research projects that would need the research information required for a college paper.
But it doesn't matter.......my comment was just a surprise that kids have their parents convinced they need to go to a library to get research done. wink wink.
The point -- it is sad that a library -- a fun place to browse for books, is not such a pleasant place to be when folks who aren't clean, smell and make us feel uncomfortable 'hang out' all day. Municipalities should address this issue and try to come up with strategies that reduce this uncomfortable experience.
Point noted.
As far as having to go to the library, depends on the library. I would "kill" to be able to go again to the Infantry School Library at Ft. Benning.
As far as being uncomfortable, well to those not a threat, I would just shift my personalty to get around them being there. And to those that are? There's a reason that if there is a skyjacking, the skyjackers are going to shoot me first.
Since libraries are public buildings, anyone can use the facilities as long as they follow the rules. The homeless use the restroom and use the sink for cleaning up.
There are some woods near a small library that I know of, where homeless setup camp. This is an upscale suburban area with high cost of living and is a Republican area. Not a liberal area by any means. The homeless use the library restroom for cleanup because they don't have access to a shower in this smaller town. There aren't that many of homeless using this smaller library so they don't stick out and they are pretty discrete about it. The homeless don't hang out in public in large groups in this area. One or two at a time and they don't harass people.
A few towns away there is a larger library and there is a food pantry nearby and a homeless shelter nearby that is only open at night for sleeping but the homeless must leave in the morning. Groups of homeless are more common in this general area as they stay nearby the food pantry and sleeping shelter. Some of them have nowhere to go during the day but they don't stray that far away from the food/sleeping. Some have mental problems. They hang out at library - both outside and inside to pass time and to stay out of the elements.
There are office and retail buildings and condos nearby with workers and tourists coming and going. The homeless are hanging out at the library and nearby park. It's been going on for many years. The park benches were removed at the park due to the homeless sitting there for hours and hours. But there are benches outside the library where they still sit and lots of chairs inside the library where they sit too.
Last edited by sware2cod; 12-01-2019 at 08:56 AM..
Here in Tucson, the Pima County public libraries are overall very good IMO. There are more than a dozen branch locations, and I have visited three. I have a library card and check out Kindle E-books on a regular basis. I also read some printed books with a book club that I belong to at one of the branches. The book club introduces me to books and authors that I never would have found or selected on my own, and I enjoy talking about the books with the others in the book club.
All of our local libraries have a security guard or sometimes a police officer present. Sure, there are sometimes a couple of people out front or inside that might be using the library as a comfortable hang out during the day. They often sit by themselves in a corner and generally want to be left alone, because they don't want to get booted out. If they bother someone, they will usually be asked to leave by the police or security guard.
What I notice about the local libraries is how popular they are for so many people who live in the area (ie people who are not homeless). Each library has a few rows of computer terminals that are always busy. This is great for people who might live in a home that does not have high speed internet service, or no computer. There are after-school learning programs, English as a second language classes and GED study classes.
Of all the things that my local tax dollars get used for, the Pima County public libraries are one of the best things that brings a lot of benefit to me and many others. My guess is that people who might gripe about public libraries have not used them much and don't understand the role a well managed library system can bring to a city. Education is a cornerstone for a good place to live, and libraries help make education a life long experience. Public libraries are not just for school kids.
Just saw this news article when looking at some other things and was a little surprised.
I used to live in Chicago and the police there would *never* have let things get to the point where criminals would feel comfortable to infest libraries like that. That's just not how Chicago rolled, they did a lot of stuff "off the books" if you catch my drift and the street hustlers all knew it. There were certain parks where you'd see all of that activity congregated and then other parks where you'd have the office workers etc. all sitting around unmolested for the most part.
Is the stuff going on in San Diego common where anybody else lives?
Not that bad, but bad enough that I don't enjoy going downtown to the library anymore. It's a pity too, because that's where all the rare books are, the historic newspapers, photos, genealogy collections and so on. Last time a guy followed me to my car trying to bum a light and telling me that space aliens were watching him. He was harmless, but someday one of these people are going to go off and harm people. I should add that the branch libraries are fine and clear of bums.
Most homeless are harmless. Sure they have mental health issues but rarely are they the kind of people to be a danger to most of us.
If you are inclined to be nervous about your child in a library with a homeless person, you should be as nervous about them being there with someone who truly would mean harm to them - that is not 'obviously' homeless.
Homeless smell sometimes, they make us feel uncomfortable but they are not violent criminals.
It is a concern. '
(And who knew kids still needed to go to libraries for research...school media centers, and even at home you can access so much information.)
Spoken like a person with no kids. No only are you wrong, but you are preposterously wrong. No sane parent would allow their 10 y/o girl in the bathroom unsupervised, with homeless people, potentially men, who're drunk.
Last edited by CaseyB; 12-01-2019 at 12:46 PM..
Reason: language
the article states the taxpayers are paying 1.5 million annually for on site security officers to protect librarians and patrons at the majority of the city's libraries.
anecdotally, I once had a short term job assignment that required I go into a crime ridden area. I demanded and got a security escort to accompany me during my time spent in the area. otherwise, I would have refused to go.
Some librarians and even museum staff are under attack, so to speak, by people who object to the items being displayed. For example, some extreme SJW might object to rows and rows of books written by White men and favor those row be replaced with non-White writers and even writers that are women, non-binary, or whatever non-male gender they ID with.
All of the 7 librarians I've known have been liberal democrats. They voted themselves into this.
Whats the conservative solution let them die on the streets? The fact of the matter is they need housing conservatives like you don't want to pay for housing the very poor so they congregate in public spaces like parks and libraries.
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