[Libs-Or] Problems for Corvallis-Benton County Library With youth at entrance--coming soon to a library near you?

[Marta Murvosh]

Thank you Karen for posting this response. 

I strongly feel that the public library is a place where all people, no matter their life situation, should be comfortable. This can be a bit of a balancing act. 

I very much agree with Karen's point that the library has an opportunity to work more closely with its community. Judging from the article, it looks like the library has gone from being reactive to proactive, taking advantage of the opportunity and reaching out to community groups. 

Although the teens featured in the news story may be only taking advantage of a few  library services, there is always the chance that as their situation they will use more library services. 

It may be that the young mother-to-be will attend baby story time, check out baby board books, or books for herself to help her improve her situation. 

The library is providing her and other homeless teens with stability, shelter, and safety if only for a few hours a day. 

Marta

--- On Mon, 6/6/11, Karen Seong <KarenS at wccls.org> wrote:

From: Karen Seong <KarenS at wccls.org>
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Problems for Corvallis-Benton County Library With youth at entrance--coming soon to a library near you?
To: "'Hope Leman'" <hleman at samhealth.org>, "libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us" <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Date: Monday, June 6, 2011, 10:38 AM

I had a chance to visit D.C. Public Library's Martin Luther King branch last spring and had a chance to meet Rebecca Renard (2011 LJ's movers and shaker awardee).  She brought together what she called natural arch nemesis (teens vs. homeless) by having them interview each other and documenting the process.  What is happening at Corvallis-Benton County Library can be an opportunity to make a positive impact  and a chance to bridge the gap between homeless teens and the community. 

Karen Seong

Library Assistant
Cedar Mill Community Library
12515 NW Cornell Rd
Portland, OR 97229


-----Original Message-----
From: libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Hope Leman
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 9:01 AM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [Libs-Or] Problems for Corvallis-Benton County Library With youth at entrance--coming soon to a library near you?

Hi, all. Just an FYI on a problem here in my hometown of Corvallis. I don't and never have worked at the Corvallis-Benton County library but have been going there since I was born here and I dismayed that the problem with unruly youth at the entrance has become such a problem that young families and other patrons are being hassled at the very gateway to the library and that the problem has escalated to the front page of the Sunday paper. Ironically, a special levy for the library, local pool and senior center just passed resoundingly.


Here is the article.

The kids at the library

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_2ae80f53-52d4-5205-9e15-96dd22c42905.html

Hope Leman, MLIS
Research Information Technologist
Center for Health Research and Quality
Samaritan Health Services
815 NW 9th Street
Corvallis, OR 97330
(541) 768-5712






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