Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
Buffalo Central Library curtails hours after surge in student fights
The library reports it is happening daily, hourly, and that it is a crises.
The Central Library had been open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. In an effort to safeguard library patrons and staff, the downtown Central Library will reduce its open public hours during the week. It will begin closing at 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays because of security concerns.
“Unfortunately, incidents at the Central Library have now escalated to the point where we cannot provide the environment that our users expect and deserve," said John Spears, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's director. "The problems we are experiencing with patrons of all ages, but especially youth, are being seen beyond just the library, and we hope that these issues can be addressed across the entire community. When you have this type of thing happening daily, hourly, it's a crisis," Spears said. "It has grown beyond us. Some of the fights have involved 20 to 30 people.”
The library typically has four security guards and two sheriff's deputies in the county-owned building, but even that's proven not to be enough to ward off problems. Police backup has been called in several times to deal with the escalating violence.
Comment
As someone born and bred in the eastside of Buffalo who used to visit the Buffalo Central Library extensively when attending K-12 schools and college doing homework and research, being a voracious reader checking out reading materials, especially finding solace and safety when visiting the library, this makes me angry and sad in what is taking place in America today.
Our country is out of control. This is but another example that our country is headed in the wrong direction!