Middleton-Hope questions CEO over mounting library complaints
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2022.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
A shopping cart sits abandoned at the Lethbridge Public Library downtown branch entrance.LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
A presentation to the Cultural and Social Standing Policy Committee of city council on Thursday about its plan of service prompted some tough questions about security.
The presentation was made by chair Craig Brown, vice-chair Angela Viola and library CEO Terra Plato.
But councillor John Middleton-Hope, who was sitting in on the session in council chambers, had questions about the number of homeless people hanging around the building.
The councillor told the presenters that the City has gotten numerous complaints from the public and wanted to know how that situation was being addressed.
“You’ve indicated in your proposal that you’re looking for an inclusive and engaging community for everyone. And that’s a very laudable direction to go and certainly a goal to achieve. However, you – I’m sure – have received, like the City has received, numerous complaints of homelessness around your building, the interference of people coming and going to your building. The City certainly has received a substantial number of complaints from citizens who are trying to access the library. I’d like to know what you’re prepared to do to address that issue,” Middleton-Hope said to the three presenters.
Homelessness is a community issue, not a library-created issue and nor is the library in the position to solve it, Plato told him in response to his question.
The library’s role is to address how to respond in an inclusive and welcoming way, the meeting was told.
The library has a code of conduct that governs behaviour inside. Illegal behaviour and behaviour that is disruptive to other patrons is dealt with, the committee heard.
Security guards are in place and security has been increased three times to deal with the number of issues that the library has been experiencing, Plato said.
“Our security team enforces our code of conduct to the ability that they’re able to,” the committee heard.
The library relies on community resources such as the police to help.
“Our enforcement ability is limited; we’re not the police,” the committee heard.
The library has taken steps including decreasing the number of access points to the building and ensuring there is a security station at each access point.
“All of this is to ensure that the library is a safe place for everybody in the community, understanding that we have challenged with those issues as everybody has in the downtown,” said Plato.
Middleton-Hope responded by asking “in terms of managing the complaints, so we should be taking the complaints from the city and just turning them over you to manage?” he asked.
Plato responded by saying the library gets complaints as well and responds to them when they come in.
Brown said the library wants to hear from patrons if they are concerned so they can be spoken to on a one-to-one basis.
Middleton-Hope said “I think listening is important and I think solutions are also important.”
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21-20
Every person entering should need to produce a library card. Make your choice, either buy a card or buy drugs. Simple…..
Public library has been hijacked by all the derelicts, drug addicts and homeless hanging around day and night huddled in corners, laying on the sidewalks and boulevard shooting up in the bathrooms, dealing drugs on premises and leaving garbage everywhere. It’s sickening. The good vibe of the library has been destroyed and people like CEO Terra Plato with the attitude she harbours hugely adds to the ever growing problem. Library needs to be reclaimed for library patrons- those who use it for the right reasons. ‘Inclusiveness’ is a term that is being used too often as an excuse for turning a blind eye from a problem. Implement some tough love and show respect for the hard working taxpayers who built the expensive library that is being run down and who pay staff wages. Get priorities straight – keep homeless AWAY- reclaim the library for the productive members of society that actually contribute to our cities wellbeing. If Ms. Plato can’t turn things around, replace her ASAP!
I agree with Councillor Middleton-Hope’s remarks. As a previous once a week patron at LPL, I tried the curb pick-up but did not feel safe getting out of my vehicle, after an angry “kicked out” male, picked up the table and threw it toward me. Previously, I was privy to the Female washroom being used for a wash job. One female actually putting her feet in the sink to wash them. Seeing the needle drop box on the wall – and all that entails, meant I would not use that facility. Children’s washroom also has/had a drop box. On another occasion I witnessed an over-dosed male on the floor being helped until the ambulance would get there. I had once spoken to Ms Plato. to address an issue and felt that I was just brushed off. Last week, after a 2 year absence going to LPL, I entered, felt very nervous and uncomfortable and left.
So my solution? I use the Bookmobiles where my tax dollars are well spent.
The issues have always been there and the library administration has been part of the problem resolving the issues. They bound security’s hands from doing their jobs properly, both the Commissionaires and later Paladin.
The have the attitude that has been taken on by several city operations, that it is a public place and there is nothing we can do about it and that these people need a place to go.
This is completely wrong. Doing drugs in public washrooms is illegal! Doing drugs on the property is illegal! Public intoxication, including on drugs is illegal! Intimidating people using the facility is a breach of city bylaws, as well as loitering. Using the library for John’s to pick up the hookers is illegal and you consider that prostitutes are not allowed to operate near areas where children are present and frequent, including parks and schools!
I have pictures of lots of the hookers/drug dealers as well as some of the John’s picking up the hookers right in the library parking lot!!!
Many of these facilities are copying the library model, including city hall!
Don’t blame security!!! I have voiced my concerns for years, to the point I was refused a library membership! Terra Plato refused my renewal! I never was abusive, called her names, created scenes but told her the truth of what I saw and that I wouldn’t allow my grandkids to come near that library! So . . . I was refused while all the hookers and addicts have free rein!
Thank you Councillor Middleton-Hope for standing up for us who live in the area and would like to be able to use the facilities and parks our property taxes pay for!
“Our security team enforces our code of conduct to the ability that they’re able to,” the committee heard.
Then maybe you should change your Code of Conduct!
The library relies on community resources such as the police to help.
“Our enforcement ability is limited; we’re not the police,” the committee heard.
You have trained security guards that can make arrests, who can call police when laws are broken.
“All of this is to ensure that the library is a safe place for everybody in the community, understanding that we have challenged with those issues as everybody has in the downtown,” said Plato.
This last statement is laughable, sad, but laughable! It only provides a safe place for addicts to do drugs and bath in the washrooms. The issues surrounding the library could have been reduced if people were trespassed for breaking laws and that means from the property as a whole and Ms. Plato not removing those trespasses.
Ms. Plato needs to step down and allow someone who can step up to the challenge and resolve the issues.
Do you see this happening in downtown businesses? No!!! Do you see these issues happening at the Park Place Mall? No!!! The same security that is contracted at the mall is at the library, so the difference it policy, policy that Ms. Plato has made.
It is Ms. Plato who has not made the right decisions in the past years to reduce the issues that has created the increased issues there. Time for change!