[Publib] Gang activity at library construction site

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings -

 

Those circumstances are certainly likely to create fear.  I think one of the
main 

purposes of libraries is to help remove fear from a community.

 

There are certainly many urban libraries that have dealt with gang
activities,

however, they are usually able to rely on a much bigger 'gang' in the form
of

police that can limit threats.  When I worked for the Marines, our goal was
to

provide security so people could do their construction jobs.  To remove
fear,

we provided extensive training.  The biggest priority in your situation in
my

opinion is to provide training and help dispel the fear of the unknown.

 

The fear of violence is relative.  So, using the theory of relativity you
might

want to look at ORHA
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Office+for+Reconstruction+and+Humanita
rian+Assistance&aq=f&oq=&aqi=>  and how they have dealt with what is
essentially gang

violence on a national level. They had almost no resources to work with.

Think about how they provide security and attempt to remove the fear factor
and 

scale backwards to your microcosm of potential violence. 

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Terry Sterling
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 1:30 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Gang activity at library construction site

 

We are in the process of building a new 10,800 sq ft library in a community
of 9,000 to replace a 3,000 sq ft building we have occupied since the
1970's.  The population is 95 to 98% Hispanic in the Central Valley of
California.  Most of the residents work as farm labor or in fruit packing
houses, so there is a lot of low paying seasonal employment.  Because of the
nature of local employment and limited transpration to other nearby cities
this rural community is one of the poorest in the state.  The city and civic
groups work closely with the schools to support children, there is a city
park with no play ground equimpment, but a new high school, a new middle
school, a BMX park and a skateboard park.  There is not a local police and
only a volunteer fire departments.  Policing is done by the county sheriff's
department and fires are addressed the volunteers and/orCalfire--a state
agency serving rural areas in Fresno Co.  
 
There are at least two rivial gangs at work in the community and the new
library has been tagged 2 times in the last three weeks and a small fire set
last week, with a window kicked in.  If we are having these sorts problems
before the new library is completed, I am worried about the situation once
we open. My staff are also concerned for their own safety, as we do not have
onsite building security staff.   I am meeting this week with the County
Gang Task Force Officer and members of the sheriff's dept.  Currently the
city staff are saying there is nothing they can do, except help to paint
over the tagging.  We do have SRP for children and teen during the summer
weeks and we will be offering more programming when the new library opens in
November.  
 
I am considering having a series of meetings with civic leaders, school
officials, church staff, boys & girls club as well as sheriff's dept to
address the gang issue.  I also want to include youth in this and maybe gang
members as well (if they can be identified--not sure if this is a good
idea).  I have the impression that the active gang members are older, not
young teens, but we do have some young kids who are showing the inclination
to be affiliated with the gangs by tagging the old library.  I would like to
have the library identified as a neutral location in the community and off
limits for gang activiy and tagging. 
 
Have you addressed a simular situation, how did you handle it and do you
have any suggestions for ways to approach this with the community, youth,
ect.  Thanks for your suggestions and assistance.    



Terry Sterling
Fresno County Public Library
Community Libraries East and Community Bookmobile Supervisor
terry.sterling at fresnolibrary.org
559-488-2975 
 

 

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