[Publib] a delicate issue

[Karen Schneider]

I am simply chiming in on this, having dealt with it years and years ago --
with a library staff member. It is harder to have this discussion than it is
to do many other things, in my opinion, including firing people, having
other tough discussions, etc. I've also seen this discussions happen in
church settings, where they aren't any easier. Necessary, but hard. Hard,
but necessary. Just sympathizing.

Karen G. Schneider

On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 11:38 AM, Marsha Howard <marsha at poetshouse.org>wrote:

> I think the response from James overlooked your indication that this is not
> a homeless person.
>
> Having worked for years in NYPL branches I well understand the
> unpleasantness and delicacy of the issue. I have a 96 year old mother and I
> know that as some people age their hygiene, for one reason or another, may
> slip--incontinence, difficulty in getting in and out of a tub are just a
> couple of reasons. Sometimes they seem totally unaware of their condition
> and sometimes perhaps unwilling to acknowledge it.
>
> Do you have a senior center in your area where you can consult with a
> social worker? They may be able to give you some tactful language. Perhaps
> they know the individual, know if this person has any family who can
> intercede?
>
> If all else fails, for the sake of the staff, (and I remember how my staff
> complained!), and the other patrons, you or your supervisor must talk with
> this person. It has to be done privately and tactfully. Perhaps something
> along the lines of  "when you visit the library we have complaints regarding
> body odor. We really value your presence in the library but must ask you to
> remedy this situation because it causes distress." That's just off the top
> of my head. If you have to do this yourself, you might want to be prepared
> with a referral to a social service agency. Maybe the person needs to have
> an aide come in to help with bathing (and who knows what else). There are
> social service agencies who can provide an aide at low cost and even free of
> charge.
>
> You need to tread carefully because people sometimes react in unexpected
> ways. If you try to bar the person or do anything too drastic you may find
> yourselves in the middle of a law suit.
>
> Marsha Howard
> Poets House
>
>
> 2008/11/24 <imukherjee100 at qc.cuny.edu>
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>>
>>
>> Is anyone out there who can help us in dealing with a senior patron whose
>> arrival turns the library into an intolerable odor-polluted place?  This
>> customer is undoubtedly a fiction/best seller reader and used to be one of
>> our regulars. We tried our level best by spraying around room freshener upon
>> her departure. In the beginning staff members complained but now things are
>> getting out of hand as other patrons started complaining too. It's
>> definitely not a "homeless" issue. Any suggestion on how to deal with this
>> matter in a legitimate and professional way would be really helpful. Thanks
>> in advance.
>>
>>
>>
>> Indira Mukherjee
>>
>>
>>
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| Karen G. Schneider
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