[LM_NET] Rowdy behavior in the public library

[Denise Moore <dmoore@ECS.K12.NY.US>]

Hi Folks. I must weigh in here. Rowdy behavior by unattended children is a sad fact 
of life  in public libraries across the country. I served on the Board of Trustees 
for ten 
years at our local library and this was a problem for us too. We solved it by 
hiring a 
security guard  from 3 pm until closing at 8 pm each weekday.
This is still working quite well. 
I must add a short anecdote that got me involved in this issue. Many years ago when 
my two children were toddlers, we happened to stop at the library one afternoon 
around 4 pm. My children needed to use the bathroom. We were refused.
We were informed that the bathrooms were now locked each day from 3 to 5 pm due 
to vandalism. I was incensed. I went home and wrote a rather vituperative letter  
and 
sent it to the board. Their response: They invited me to run in the next board 
election 
to serve as  trustee. I did; we hired a security guard, opened the bathrooms, and 
changed our policy. 
Long live democracy!

Denise Moore
High School Librarian
Ellenville HS
Ellenville, NY
dmoore@ecs.k12.ny.us



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