|
Chandler Library declares war on homeless people???
Libraries are proposing rules to battle offensive behavior by Edythe Jensen - Jan. 11, 2012 08:25 AM The Republic | azcentral.com Controlling people in public libraries these days is about more than holding a finger to pursed lips and making the "shhhhh" sound. Unattended children, loud electronic devices, offensive personal hygiene and bathing in public restrooms are common at Southeast Valley libraries, leading to revised "unacceptable behavior" lists. Chandler is the latest to propose updates as officials deal with recent complaints from patrons who encounter individuals bathing, changing clothes, washing their hair or doing laundry in downtown library restrooms, said Library Manager Brenda Brown. The city's Library Board will consider changes to the Standards of Acceptable Behavior Policy at its meeting Tuesday. "The downtown library is a very urban setting. Things get stolen when they're left unattended. We're trying to get people to stop bringing in food and drink," Brown said. She declined to name individuals or groups that are sources of problems, but the downtown facility is known to attract homeless people who often spend hours every day on library couches or chairs. It is common to see shopping carts filled with sleeping bags, coolers and cardboard boxes outside the downtown library entrance. "Regardless of the situation people are in, we do have a policy and we try to be consistent in our enforcement," Brown said. Enforcement comes in stages, starting with a verbal warning and progressing to eviction from the library, loss of privileges and then to arrest for repeat offenders. The proposed new rules would prohibit entering the library "with personal hygiene that is offensive to others" or sleeping on library furniture. They also would prohibit bathing and washing clothes in library restrooms and being under the influence of alcohol. Policy changes are considered administrative and do not have to be approved by the City Council. Council member Rick Heumann, who has served on city advisory boards, said Chandler wants to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere in all of its public facilities. "It doesn't matter who it is, we don't want people using the bathrooms for purposes other than what they are designed for," he said. Tempe, Phoenix and Mesa libraries have similar behavior policies, although Mesa's Library Code of Conduct does not have bathing and clothes-washing prohibitions. Kathy Little, branch coordinator at Mesa's main library, said a patron recently reported that someone was drying laundry under the restroom's hand dryer. However, she said the city has not had a rash of complaints and there are no plans to change the current code. Tempe prohibits "using restrooms for washing clothes or bathing" and doesn't allow patrons to bring bedrolls, suitcases and blankets into library buildings. Maricopa County Library District, which operates the Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert, has the shortest behavior policy: "Any behavior that is deemed disruptive or destructive to the library and the library environment is unacceptable" and violators can be asked to leave or prohibited from using the library for up to one year, said spokesman Nelson Mitchell. A homeless couple at the downtown Chandler library last week said they are regulars who spend hours inside reading and watching library movies on a portable DVD player. Will, 50, and his wife, Deloria, 43, declined to give their last name but said library employees know them and make them feel comfortable. They said they follow rules and don't do anything that may be considered offensive. As they left the library before dark last week, Will said they used to ride bicycles, but Deloria's was stolen from the library's bike rack recently. Proposed prohibited behavior at libraries:
|