Tag: public safety

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SHOULD HOMELESS SLEEP IN LIBRARIES?

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I’m concerned about the plight of the homeless. No one should have to live on the streets, IMO.  Not in a civilized society.   In many cities, the homeless can often be seen  in public libraries. Our local library  removed all the couches, which helped a little.   But many men and women  still manage to fall asleep slumped over in chairs.  Should the homeless be allowed to sleep in the library?  And if not, why?

Should Homeless Sleep in Libraries if they pose a safety and security threat?
SHOULD HOMELESS SLEEP IN LIBRARIES? Or do they pose a safety and security threat?

Three reasons:

1. Public safety.  Statistically, many homeless are drug addicts. who could be running out of money for their next fix.  When I walk past them– snoring in a chair beside  a backpack– I feel somewhat apprehensive.  Yes, there are many employees and patrons around, but as we know, that doesn’t always stop a random attack on innocent people.

 Library employees are not social workers or police officers, and they are  not  expected to deal with this problem—nor should they be.  Naturally, some folks might doze off while reading a book or magazine, but when it goes on for an hour or more, here’s what I would suggest:  Call a plain clothes police officer who can gently awaken the individual and offer to connect them with someone who can help.  Wait with that person until you’re sure they have found a roof over their head.  If they refuse shelter, then they really must  be banned from the library.

2. Public health. Because of where they live,  and lack of running water to clean up,  a homeless person could be carrying a communicable disease. Whether you touch them  or not, they are breathing the same air as you. They’re also using the restroom, touching handles, faucets and door knobs.

3. Humanitarian concerns.  If they are truly homeless, their needs should not  be ignored.   Suppose you saw  a child asleep in the library. . Would you walk past them as if they didn’t exist?  Of course not.  You would ask a librarian to  awaken the child , find his parent , or refer him to some social service agency if he was alone.  Or, if  someone fainted , an alert librarian would call an ambulance if the patron had no companion..   Surely, a homeless person deserves the same consideration.

No man is an island.  A homeless person is part of our collective humanity.  Should they be encouraged to sleep in the library?  I don’t think so.

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PLEASE DON’T BRUSH TEETH IN LIBRARY

Everyone is getting upset about the new cases of covid-19 surging in our once-safe city.  The governor is not going to enforce mask wearing, but it looks like we’ll have to be extra careful about handwashing and other sanitary habits.  Yesterday,  I saw a woman brushing her teeth at the restroom sink in  the public library. She didn’t appear to be homeless. Nicely dressed, fairly well groomed.  Maybe she was going to a meeting and didn’t want to have bad breath.  All I know is that she was spitting in the sink, and saliva can spread the coronavirus.   Perhaps they should post a sign: Please  don’t brush teeth in library.

Please don't brush teeth in the library. It's not sanitara.
Please don’t brush teeth in library. Spitting in the sink can spread the virus.

Etiquette wise, it’s considered acceptable for a person to brush their teeth in a public restroom. But do you want to wash your hands in a sink where someone has spit their food, saliva and germs?   In fact, someone  with the virus may have contaminated the entire area where you’re turning on water,  and reaching for the soap dispenser.

Let’s go back and assume this person actually was homeless.  Maybe she had nice clothes, and was well groomed, because she wasn’t always homeless. Perhaps she began living in her car just a couple of days ago.  Anything is possible.  I just know she was creating a health hazard not only for herself, but for anyone who used the sink after she did. .

It’s hard to know how to handle a situation like this.  I’m not into confrontations with strangers, so I didn’t say a word.  However,  I didn’t care to wash my hands in that sink.  So I left the restroom without doing so.   Found some sanitizer at one of the desks.  Wiped my hands with a Kleenex (they don’t have paper towels) as best I could and tried to avoid touching anything except the books I was checking out.  Luckily, I’ve been vaccinated, so I’m not as vulnerable as some. But still.  Please don’t brush your teeth in the library–or any public restroom..