There was much discussion in 2020 and 2021 in the library world about ridding libraries of the presence of police officers, despite several high-profile murders of library staff in California, New York, and Florida. In July 2020, I was interviewed by American Libraries magazine for an article entitled “Rethinking Police Presence.” I spoke about the need to train staff in de-escalation techniques so that they only call the police when they are really needed. I remained highly skeptical, however, about the idea of abolishing police presence altogether and thought that the idea seemed in conflict with another idea that was popular at the time, that of vocational awe.
This debate was fresh in my mind when I read that the new Billie Jean King Library in Long Beach, closed for two weeks in September due to security concerns, remained closed for an additional two to three weeks in October as staff continued to grapple with concerns over safety. Fortunately the library was able to reopen to the public later the October, with “at least two officers patrolling both floors of the library during operating hours.”
I will say that some of the library-affiliated organizations advocating for the abolishment of police seemed to consist of people not actually working in libraries.
It’s also the management staff doing this who work on floors that are not the public area. Or have offices in the staff rooms so don’t have to face the danger first hand. Top down management for sure. Choosing the current trendy idea that will advance their career while throwing staff and the wide majority of community library users under the bus.
This one made me very sad. The library director in Florida at Fort Myers Beach was my advisee. That was heartbreaking. Leroy Hommerding was setting up a library book sale when he was stabbed to death.
I will say that some of the library-affiliated organizations advocating for the abolishment of police seemed to consist of people not actually working in libraries.
It’s also the management staff doing this who work on floors that are not the public area. Or have offices in the staff rooms so don’t have to face the danger first hand. Top down management for sure. Choosing the current trendy idea that will advance their career while throwing staff and the wide majority of community library users under the bus.
This one made me very sad. The library director in Florida at Fort Myers Beach was my advisee. That was heartbreaking. Leroy Hommerding was setting up a library book sale when he was stabbed to death.
I'm sorry.