2 days ago
Brodie Library closing doors temporarily
Thunder Bay's Brodie Library will temporarily close its doors this summer to allow for renovations, including improvements to safety and security.
The closure begins June 16 and will last until September.
"The temporary closure is part of that broader facilities plan," Ruth Hamlin-Douglas, TBPL head librarian, said in an interview at the branch on Thursday, adding that other renovations are also going to be made at other branches, including Waverley Library.
However, Brodie Library has seen an escalation in security-related incidents. While all branches are seeing such incidents, TBPL CEO Richard Togman told CBC News in a previous interview, the Waverley and Brodie branches, which are located in the north and south cores, respectively, are seeing the highest number.
"A temporary closure at Brodie has been part of the restructuring plans we've been making for the Library system from the start," Togman said in a statement on Thursday. " "However, in light of the increasing and escalating security incidents at the branch, we're adjusting our schedule to prioritize the Brodie changes."
The changes include hiring new security staff and altering the layout of Brodie Library. "There will be a circulation desk really much closer to the doors than it is now," Hamlin-Douglas said. "We're looking at a circular desk so that there is better sight lines all around."
The main collection will be moved to the upper floor, while the research department will be located on the lower level, Hamlin-Douglas said.
"Our map cabinets, our microfilm cabinets, all of that is moving downstairs to where the research folks will be situated," she said. "We're carefully looking at the flow so that, for example, the children's areas might not be right next to the computer area."
Staff will remain on the job during the closure. The research department will respond to requests via email, and the Brodie collection will still be accessible through inter-library loan.
In addition, staff will receiving training on new customer service and security procedures.
"We've been more flexible in the last few years about identification," Hamlin-Douglas said. "We're now requiring that everyone get either a library full library card, or an E-service card, which requires identification, in order to access the computers."
"That's because that's where a lot of our incidents stem from," she said. "And often too, when we call the police, we've got a concern if we don't have a name. If I only have a first name for someone, it's not always sufficient to follow through. So we want to make sure we've got better control in that regard and that increases safety for both the staff and the public."
"We're also going through and just looking at things like how often are people expected to walk around and check the corners? Where are those cameras placed? So it's no one thing, but it's all the pieces as they come together."
