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Library is no place for vagrants
Recently I visited the new Redding Library about 3 p.m. As I approached the library (which, by the way, is a great place), I noticed a whole bunch of folks sitting around outside the front entrance.
Many were just there, some with various descriptions of clothes, backpacks and blankets, others sleeping or pretending to, and others smoking and just “hanging out.”
This is not the first time I have seen this. Until now, I just kind of ignored it.
I got a book and was exiting through the front area when I saw some of the outdoor visitors were visiting the bathrooms. I overheard two young mothers with their children in tow, talking, saying, in essence, “I’m not leaving my children in the library alone with all those street people and homeless hanging around.”
Interesting point. So I thought, “I’ll check this out.” I went back inside and looked for a security guard, or someone who looked as if he were controlling the front door. No one in sight.
I asked the Information Desk volunteer about who controls who comes in and out. He said he didn’t know but would check it out, and added, “This is a public building and anyone can use it.” City Hall is a public building, as are many other public buildings, but I do not see these folks hanging out at those other buildings.
Then he said something like, “You know, we are near the mission and some other places for the homeless,” which has nothing to do with the issue.
By then my curiosity was getting the best of me, so I walked around the downstairs area looking at who was there. Almost all the folks were reading, looking up books and data, and using the library as it should be used.
I walked upstairs and saw a snoozer by the window, dressed and looking like the folks at the entrance. I asked a clerk what was going on with these folks. He said staff members speak to them when they are walking around, but he couldn’t leave his location.
Time was up and I had to get going, so I left with my question unanswered.
Library staff, what is the answer? Is it safe to allow young children to walk around and browse in the library? If you take children in there, should you watch their every move? Do we have security at the library, for any number of reasons? Seems like we might look into this.
Enjoy the new library.
By the way, since I used the word “homeless,” it was good to see that the city ruled in favor of the facility for feeding the needy just south of the library. Whether we like it or not, this part of town, along with a couple of other areas in downtown Redding, have, over the years, been a haven for some folks. And it could be a lot worse.
Redding police keep a close watch and often respond quickly when called. But they need to be called. When I am approached by a transient for a handout in the Wendy’s parking lot, a call needs to be made.
If we as a community are concerned about transients and the homeless, we cannot just say “that’s the way it is” and ignore it. We must either direct them to the various groups that offer to feed and shelter the needy or we must encourage them to move on. We cannot just do nothing. A library is a library, not a covered, air-conditioned hangout for those who have nowhere else to go.
Let’s not just ignore this issue, because the library is much more than just a public building. It is an institution that we can all use, be proud of, be safe in and maintain for years to come.
Ron Largent is a Realtor, business owner and longtime Redding resident. He can be reached at ronlargent@yahoo.com or ronlargent.yourkwagent.com.
Below is a link to the response by Janice Erickson, Shasta Public Library Director, to Ron Largent’s “Library is no place for vagrants” article, above.
Response to “Library is no place for Vagrants” by Janice Erickson.
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“When I am approached by a transient for a handout in the Wendy’s parking lot, a call needs to be made.”
The cops need to be called every time someone asks you for spare change, food, etc.? Chill out, Ron.
I grew up in Redding and things have certainly changed since I was a teenager in the late 70’s. I could walk all around downtown and never have to worry about anything. I have 3 kids who are teenagers now but we all spent a lot of time in the downtown area for ballet, piano and karate lessons. During these outings it never failed that someone would ask us for a hand out. As the lone adult in charge of 3 young children who had to get them all safely in and out of the car, strap them in car seats, or find ballet bags, piano music etc… and walk around the car to get in myself, I often felt like a sitting duck with a target on my back. The same type of folks that you mentioned would come over to our car and be so aggressive and demanding that many times I felt that our safety was threatened. I used to give them money but now I ask if they are hungry and offer them to buy them food. You would be surprised that most of them have turned me down. There have been the very few who have waited patiently for me to return with food and have been most gracious and kind. It is impossible to tell who these people will be, but that is how I taught my children the gift of giving. We certainly are not rich. My husband is a carpenter and there are times when these folks have better clothes and work boots than he has. I don’t like having to deal with this issue any more than the next person and as parents we must be viligent. The days when we could just drop our kids off at public places are over. That’s just the way it is. Too bad for everyone.
Yeah — let’s charge admission to keep the riffraff out!
But seriously, which do you think is a greater nuisance to the regular library user — those evil, menacing transients trying to escape the heat in peace or unsupervised children treating the library like a playground?
And how would you filter out the homeless anyway? A more strict dress code (one which justly applied might keep out less well-healed regulars)? A subjective odor test (and would obnoxious perfumes and colognes be included)? And if you did succeed in finding some way to keep the homeless from the library, why stop you there? How about those pesky teenagers? Infants and Children? Those with shaved heads, or tattoos, or piercings? Foreigners? …and so on…
So why not just let everyone be? If someone is causing a disturbance, by all means escort them from the building. But blindly excluding a segment of the population based on irrational fears is cowardly prejudice.
Certainly the Powers That Be knew that building our beautiful new library in “that part of town” would mean that “all kinds of people” would be walking in the doors. And they are…with little problem as far as I can see. As a volunteer at the Good News Rescue Mission, I have gotten to know many of the ladies that stay there for one reason or another. When I go to the library, I often see my friends, and guess what they are doing? Reading or using the computers. What do you know!
On one of our 110+ days I ran into a homeless friend in the morning and asked how she was going to survive the day. She told me what she planned and said she would go to the library and read in the afternoon. If you had seen her there, she would have looked no different than any of the other patrons. I’m glad she that 1) she likes to read and is encouraged to do so, and 2) she had a cool place to go.
Life has changed for all of us. When I was a kid I rode my bike to the library and hung out as long as I wanted. Today is different, and I would not allow my grandchildren to do that, whether the library was on West Street or Parkview. Yes, supervise your young children. Provide adequate supervision by library staff. Smile and be thankful for your own blessings when you see the occasional snoozer in the corner. Enjoy OUR library.
Sorry, Mr. Largent, but this sounds elitist. Just because people are homeless and trying to stay cool doesn’t mean they are a threat to children. Panhandlers are asking for money, not stealing it.
I’ll take a couple of snoozing, harmless homeless guys anytime over the jackasses who feel entitled to conduct loud cellphone conversations in the library.
I have recently faced the threat of being temporarily “homeless” because of fire (I’ve been on evacuation “advisory” at least twice in the past few weeks). I took comfort in the thought that once I got my non-replaceable items out of my house and the cats settled at the vet hospital, I could at least go to a public library and maybe use the computer to check the news and my e-mail account. But I guess my kind would not be welcome and I might in fact be a threat to children, if Mr. Largent is to be believed.
Ron, you really need to retire and go live in a cave somewhere away from humanity. You have it out against gay people, Mexicans, and now even the homeless. You are really out of touch with this community Sir. I am more afraid of people like you than I would be of just about anybody I encounter in downtown Redding.
We’ve been active volunteers for 14 years …… and yes, the new location needs a lot more overseeing …. not mentioned is the fact the many of the homeless use the bathrooms to do their laundry … bathe and “whatever”.
Not only would I like to see the City take a more active roll in policing the area .. but I’d also like to see a flagpole (removed from original plan)
I could be wrong here, but aren’t public libraries a traditional gathering place for the homeless?
I know the Boston Public Library has the biggest homeless scene in the area. It’s out in the open. No one gets mugged/threatened.
I didn’t know that one had to be homed in order to use the library. Are there any other requirements of which I am unaware.
Hey everyone, we’ve got ourselves a lively discussion here about folks who visit the library. Yes, it’s a touchy subject, but I’m here to offer a gentle reminder that these kinds of conversations work best when we can disagree with someone’s message without shooting the messenger.
Have a great day. xodoni
Mr. Largent, Public space is just that, public. It means anyone can utililize it. That is one reason we live in a free country is all have equal access education and information. I find unsavory sorts everywhere, inclucing here.
I grew up in Redding and have wonderful memories of the Redding library. It was the place where Holden Caulfield, Joan Didion and Truman Capote were first introduced to me. I now live in San Francisco and volunteer at the main branch of the City of San Francisco Library. To say that the library is a makeshift homeless shelter is putting it mildly. I will not go into details but it is bad to say the least. So bad that many people avoid the area entirely. I visited the new branch of the Redding library over Christmas and was amazed by the facility. I did see some homeless people but it was a walk in the park compared to San Francisco.
I am a strong advocate of libraries and feel that all people should be welcome. However should a select few vagrants take precedence over people who actually use the library for what it is? A source of information and empowerment. The powers that be in Redding have a unique chance to address this issue before it gets out of control. If the library continues with a laissez faire attitude patrons will stop utilizing the services and instead shop for books online or go to Barnes and Nobles.
Mr. Largent obviously does not regularly encounter people that are different then him. Although I do not agree with much of what he stands for I do agree that he and all patrons of libraries should be able to have a pleasant experience.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/02/EDD5T43Q0.DTL&hw=millner&sn=030&sc=725
The public library in Eureka is beautiful, built from wood and set right on the waterfront with big glass windows. There are a lot of poor and homeless people there as well. There are also security guards roaming the facility at all times. Once I drifted off to sleep while reading, and not 2 minutes later the guard was waking me up and telling me that there was no sleeping in the library. That was a bummer! As a working college student I just wanted a little cat nap…
Homeless people are part of our community. Until we provide decent mental health facilities, drug and alcohol counseling services and transitional housing - we’ll have more of the same growing problem.
My opinion is that homeless people have the same rights the homed. They deserve to use all public facilities just as well as anybody else.
Jimmy, I could not agree more. There just aren’t that many comfortable public places for the homeless to go. Not that I want to be harassed in public places–by anybody, including security–but you’re right, this community and lots of others are sorely lacking in the kinds of services that would provide the homeless and mentally ill places to go and be. We’ve lost our mental health hospital, for example, which has created an undue burden on all kinds of facilities, including the ER. If you have lots of money and have always had lots of money, you might not realize just how few places there are to go. Especially in this climate. When it’s over a hundred or pouring down rain, a park is not comfortable. There aren’t enough shelters for the homeless and who wants to hang out in a shelter all day anyway? Besides, some shelters make you leave during the day. Where do you expect these folks to go? This is not a rhetorical question. We really do need to provide for the least fortunate in our society, and not just out of altruistic motives, either. It’s in all of our best interests to provide for the those who are not well off.
WOW! I wasn’t aware that some people seem to be so uncomfortable by others not belonging to their socio-economic class here in Redding. I thought the “caste” system was in another, far-away country. Hmmmmm…. the public never ceases to amaze me.
Since when did the library become a place to baby-sit the kids? A parents job is to look after them at all times. Just when you let your guard down, anywhere, is when a child predator likes to hit and it is usually a family member.
Waterworks Park is another place that parents like to dump their kids instead of hiring a care giver.
How you treat the least of these my brethren. That is what Jesus said. He is just one dude among many but I think he loved humanity. We are defined by how we as a society deal with the least fortunate not the most well off. I had good parents, a great education and all the advantages of an upper middle class white male. Why would I hate poor people?
Shame on you Ron Largent….sorry….I meant “Guest speaker”!!
Sorry Ron, old friend…but the homeless deserve to be somewhere and the public library is just that, public. It’s open to everyone and they don’t check your Identification when you go in to see if your a homeowner. Why can’t the poor dude sit and snooze if he wants. Maybe one of the boring books put him to sleep.
The Good snooze Refugee Mission kicks them out at sunup and they can’t get back in untill dusk after listening to the bible lessen and a meal.
They’re aren’t many places you can go in Redding when you’re homeless and the cops will raid your place when you find one.
People look down on the homeless and it’s one of the least funded causes in the community along with mental health and the dog pound.
Jails and Juvinile detention get more attention than the homeless. Some are just one paycheck away from losing a home but those who live in 5 bed bungalows are the first to bitch and moan about the homeless.
Sorry, but what’s a poor down and out vagrant to do?