[Publib] Library Closing for "after school hours"

[James Casey]

Although Oak Lawn is a village of 55,000, I have also heard the refrain
from staff and patrons "parents don't care and the police put these
problems low on their list of priorities."  Those of us who are Library
administrators need to try to convince the police to move the priority
higher up.  In order to do this, it may be wise to start "at the top"
with the Chief of Police or if that fails, perhaps even the Village
Manager, County Commissioners and/or Mayor.  Once we have their
attention, we then have to listen and understand how we can work
together effectively.  Police forces are quite often pulled in many
different directions and without sufficient personnel.  Instead of
asking that they patrol the Library on a regular basis, maybe response
to 911 is more efficient from their perspective.  Be reasonable,
mutually affirming and supportive.  Once the police are on the job,
parents will be forced to care about what their kids are up to during
latch key times and can apply some real pressure.  

One tack I would not take is to accentuate the problem in the local
media in an attempt to prompt more public attention.  We don't need more
hype and horror stories about how "dangerous" libraries are floating in
the local press.  Our objective should be to continue encouraging people
to come to their public library.  

James B. Casey -- My own views
Director of the Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member (candidate for re-election)



-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Reed Winterbourne
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:21 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Library Closing for "after school hours"

I'm not sure how you can compare your situation in a town of 4,700 to
one 5 
times the size in a different state.  The answers are more difficult to
come 
up with than you might think, parents don't care and the police put
these 
problems low on their list of priorities.

Reed

>I'm against closing the library for those hours. That
>punishes the non-problem patrons. It's a real struggle
>to keep middle school kids behaving the way we'd like
>(as in, not disrupting the library visit for other
>patrons, respecting the facilities and keeping a
>modicum of quiet), but it can be done.
>
>Consistency in enforcement of clear rules, working
>with schools and law enforcement, and being proactive
>with informing problem kids' parents when possible,
>work.  When kids know the rules and see consequences
>meted out to offenders, they usually (uh, often, OK,
>sometimes) comply.  If they don't, kick 'em out.  Keep
>a list and give it to the local police.

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