Newmarket library board OKs security guards to patrol facility

A 16-week security pilot project expected to be in place after January 2020

Newmarkettoday.ca
December 24, 2019
Kim Champion

The Newmarket Public Library board gave the green light to hiring security guards to patrol the Park Avenue facility after a significant number of minor incidents raised the alarm.

On Dec. 18, the library board approved a pilot project for security up to 16 weeks estimated to cost $7,000 to $9,000, a Town of Newmarket spokesperson confirmed. The next step is to secure a security contract, expected to be in place after January 2020.

Library CEO Todd Kyle wrote in a report to the board that “a significant number of minor security incidents are regularly experienced, involving such behaviours as drug use, abusive language, and disorderly conduct”.

“Library staff continue to play an active role in maintaining the safety and security of employees and visitors to our facility, but recent trends have made this role more difficult and increased the strain on our staffing levels,” Kyle said.

Many libraries are taking similar actions as social changes put pressure on libraries to deal with more vulnerable members of society, he added.

For example, the library partnered with York Support Services Network in November to offer people the opportunity to talk with a professional crisis worker on site two Wednesdays each month from 1 to 4 p.m.

And, staff participate in annual Centre for Addiction and Mental Health-provided training with library staff from across York Region.

York Regional Police has also conducted staff training seminars on how to identify and respond to certain disruptive behaviours.

In addition, an existing emergency exit has been retrofitted into a separate and secure alternative entrance for staff only.

The library has a code of conduct, and violation of any one of the rules, or any suspected criminal behaviour, may subject the individuals involved to exclusion from the library premises under the authority of the Trespass to Property Act, in addition to referral to police and/or levy of replacement charges for damaged property.

Those rules include:

• No weapons, alcohol, and illegal drugs
• No smoking
• No abusive, threatening, disorderly, obscene or harassing language or behaviour
• No excessive noise or loud conversation
• No conduct that interferes with the general enjoyment of the facility
• Eating and drinking are permitted in designated areas only
• Children must be supervised by parents/guardians
• Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times
• Do not post any notices, distribute any material, solicit, photograph, or record video, without approval from Library staff
• Library staff reserve the right to open all bags, books and papers for inspection.