Do York Region public libraries need security guards to be safe?

Vaughan libraries employ security guards; Newmarket, Aurora, Georgina say they aren't needed at their facilities

Yorkregion.com
July 11, 2018
Teresa Latchford

Do public libraries need security guards?

It is a question that arose following an assault at the Aurora Public Library in June when a library staff member asked a female patron to turn down her music and the patron allegedly slapped the employee before assaulting an unidentified male and fleeing in a vehicle.

York Regional Police responded and began an investigation into the incident.

CEO Jill Foster said incidents of this nature are a rare occurrence at the Yonge Street library.

“In the time I have been here, the library board has never asked for funding for the addition of security guards,” she added. “Our staff are trained and this is rare so I think we are covered.”

The majority of public libraries in York Region have staff (all or some) complete training to prepare them to handle a difficult situation, including individuals who may be aggressive or abusive.

It is a best practice for libraries to have policies in place spelling out how to advise difficult patrons on acceptable behaviour or and to de-escalate any agitation before things get out of hand.

Newmarket Public Library CEO Todd Kyle confirmed there are incidents in the Park Avenue branch from time-to-time. He said library staff have the authority to ban patrons for a period of time, which is determined by the unwanted behaviour.

“We can issue an exclusion notice for a day, month or more if appropriate,” he said. “These notices are enforceable by the police.”

His staff is also trained to deal with individuals displaying symptoms of a mental health crisis. Following each incident, staff hold debriefing sessions to improve their response methods.

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“While these incidents don’t happen every day and the library is a safe place, being prepared is important,” he added.

The Newmarket library board has not identified security guards as a priority for the facility, and points out that none of the town-owned facilities have guards on site.

“My position is we aren’t there yet and can manage with staff,” he said. “We would prefer to put those resources and dollars into services the library offers.”

Security guards are more commonly seen in public libraries located in larger urban centres, according to Georgina Public Library CEO David Harvie.

“Libraries can be on the front line of addiction, homelessness and mental health because they are public spaces that are open to everyone,” he said. “However, it really hasn’t been an issue in our three branches.”

Vaughan Public Library, a group consisting of three resource libraries and six branches, have had on-site security guards for the past 20 years, according to CEO Margie Singleton.

Some guards are full-time employees and some part-time, but all are considered staff members as the library does not contract out service.

Singleton could not confirm the total annual cost of the security guards as their wages and benefits are lumped in the same expense line as the rest of the library staff.

“We are constantly re-evaluating where the security guards are needed and recently made some changes,” she said.

While some of the smaller branches have required security to discourage unacceptable behaviour, more recently the library board placed guards in the larger resource libraries with higher volumes of visitor traffic.

“We put them where the highest volume of patrons is because the more people, the more likely an incident will occur,” she explained.

Some of the library staff have received training to deal with specific incidents, but the majority of the time, the security guard will take the lead.

“Staff do feel more safe having someone who has the training to deal with these occurrences,” she said. “We encourage the guards to be proactive and deal with situations before they get out of hand.”

The guards follow common library policy by removing individuals from the facility, handing out a short-term ban (a long-term ban must be requested and approved by management) and issuing warnings that enforce library rules.

But if a staff member (including guards) or a patron feels they are in real danger or are being threatened, police will be called.

Although Vaughan is the only set of libraries in the region with security guards, it certainly isn’t the only group in the province to hire guards.

The City of Barrie recently approved additional funds to hire full-time security guards for its downtown location due to an increase in incidents, as well as violent occurrences reported in the area surrounding the library, including two stabbings and a shooting.

The city’s mayor advocated for it, the public backed him and eventually council approved the funding.