[Libs-Or] Loitering at public libraries

Mon Jun 17 21:56:28 PDT 2019

Kathy,
I'm a teen librarian with Sno-Isle Libraries up in Washington. (I'm an Emporia grad, which is how I joined this listserv.) I'm speaking for myself and drawing on my experiences working with teens. 
First, I'm going to ditto what Cindy said about Constitutional right to gather. 
I'll add that talking about what is legally permitted in terms of signs doesn't really get to the core of the issue  -- The Friends are struggling with teens on the front steps of the library. 
I wasn't really clear from the initial email whether teens on the steps were actually a problem because they were blocking the entrance or impeding ADA access or whether the Friends perceive teens on the steps of the library to be a problem. 
Either way, this is an opportunity to engage with the Friends and the teens and possibly the community as a whole.

If it's perception, then its an opportunity to have a conversation about how the library is a safe, welcoming place for all people of all ages and that includes teens and talk about how few options there are in the community for teens to have a safe gathering place without paying money. 
I also suggest adding youth representative on the Friends board, perhaps one of the teens who comes and hangs out is super responsible. 

If the teens are blocking the entrance or engaging with other patrons in a manner that takes away from the library being a safe welcoming place for all, then have a conversation with the teens about disruptive behavior. Get everyone on the staff in the loop to set boundaries and consequences, such as needing to leave for the day or talking to parents, etc.
These conversations aren't always comfortable. My personal approach with teens tends to treat each day as a new day and they have a mostly clean slate. I figure teens, like some adults at the library, are trying to figure out life and they need some support to figure things out.  
I'd like to suggest that you see if it's possible to set a season seating nook on the side of your building. Maybe the Friends would be willing to spring for some folding chairs and tables or maybe a local hardware store would be willing. It would be great if you could get some teen volunteers to bring the chairs into the building in the evening or night. You might even have other patrons use them in the morning to read, especially if you allow people to take newspapers outside. It would be nifty to have some inexpensive games like Ono, Kittens in a Blender, etc. that could be checked out for a couple of hours or even a container garden you could get Friends or teen volunteers to plant. 
Ideally, I would form a teen advisory board and work with them in charge of finding ways to meet teens' needs. I've tapped into the FBLA and Key Clubs at our local high schools and I look for teens aged 15-17 (seniors are too busy) who want to volunteer and work with middle schoolers. This way they can help me plan events and help me execute the. The Key Club painted back drops for our Diagon Alley drop-in and Harry Potter escape room events and they helped with a ton of prep for our Dia de los Makers event, which drew 80-plus people.  
Best of luck.
Marta
Marta Murvosh, MLS
librarian and freelance writer
murvosh at yahoo.com360-610-9642 - mobile
Everett, WA - Pacific Time zone
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    On Monday, June 17, 2019, 5:48:24 PM PDT, Cindy Gibbon <cindyg at multcolib.org> wrote:  

 People have a constitutional right to come to public libraries (we're a limited public forum), so during open hours,  it would be tough to defend any kind of no-loitering policy.  Ideally, you'd figure out how to engage these teens in some kind of library programming, volunteer work, something positive.  That takes resources, of course, so its a longer-term solution.  Maybe your Friends group could figure out how to help support that.  A community that has no place for its teens after school is a community with a big problem that needs a community solution.
Is the issue that the teens are blocking access to the building or engaging in some kind of problematic behavior?  Those issues can be managed with behavior rules if that is really the problem, but just making and enforcing new rules will simply set up an adversarial relationship that won't be good for the library or for these kids. Can you work with them to find a way for them to hang out at the library without keeping other people from getting in? 
Are some of your Friends members just plain uncomfortable with teens?  Perhaps there's a way to set up options for positive inter-generational interactions?
Just brainstorming here in hopes of coming up with some ideas that might help....
Cindy
Cindy GibbonDirector of Policy and Special ProjectsMy schedule: Monday through FridayMultnomah County Library503.988.5496multcolib.org
Pronouns:  She, her, hers

On Mon, Jun 17, 2019 at 1:16 PM Erickson, Doug <derickson at westlinnoregon.gov> wrote:

Dear Kathy, 

It may depend on if you have an ordinance in your city code that pertains to loitering in public places. It looks like you City ( see below-9.16.040 - Immoral practices.)  does not have one specifically addresses “public places” – It looks like the code only addresses taverns, nightclubs, and cabaret’s, and drinking. You might check with your local law enforcement agency for clarification. I hope this helps in some small way. 

Best,

-Doug

9.16.040 - Immoral practices.

A.

Peeping. No person shall go upon the premises of another at night and peer through a door or window.

B.

No person shall frequent, loiter, or be employed in any tavern, cabaret, or nightclub for the purpose of soliciting a person to purchase drinks. No proprietor of any such establishment shall allow the presence in such establishment of any person who violates the provisions of this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to persons regularly employed as bartenders and waiters.

https://library.municode.com/or/boardman/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TIT9PUPEMOWE_CH9.16OFAGPUPEDE_9.16.040IMPR

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> on behalf of "kstreet at otld.org" <kstreet at otld.org>
Date: Monday, June 17, 2019 at 12:59 PM
To: "libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us" <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [Libs-Or] Loitering at public libraries

Please help me out with this disagreement with my Friends group. The Friends group would like us to post a No Loitering sign on the front steps of the library. We have kids gathering and using it as an outdoor teen area. Since we have no room in the building. My question: I told them we are not allowed to post no loitering since we are a public building. Am I incorrect in this?

Kathy Street

kstreet at otld.org

Library Director

Oregon Trail Library District

200 S Main St

Boardman, OR 97818

541-481-3365

Website: oregontrail.ploud.net

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