Latest news with #librarysafety
National Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- National Post
Safe Workers = Safe Patrons: Library Workers in Thunder Bay Call for Immediate Action After Another Violent Incident
Article content THUNDER BAY, Ontario — Following another violent incident at a Thunder Bay Public Library branch, library workers are calling on their employer to take immediate action for worker and patron safety. Article content Article content 'One of our members was hospitalized after an assault last week, and in the library nothing has changed to protect workers or the public. There was another violent incident at the same branch yesterday. Library management has been incredibly negligent when it comes to health and safety and we can't wait another day,' said Margaret Demillo, president of CUPE 3120, which represents almost 60 workers at the city's four library branches. Article content Between January and March, there were more than 200 incidents at the city's libraries – a 73 percent increase over the previous quarter. The Brodie branch, which saw the violent assault of a library worker last week, saw a whopping 183 percent increase. Article content 'Management knows there is a problem. The city knows there is a problem. Council saw fit to have security at City Hall to protect themselves, but the people working across the street at the library? They're left on their own,' Demillo said. Article content Following the May 26 assault, and months of requests from staff, library management publicly stated they were finally considering security for the Brodie branch. But to date there have been no additional security measures put in place, and no details about how security would work to effectively protect staff and patrons or what is being done at other branches, which are also experiencing higher numbers of incidents of abuse. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reported crimes at Chicago Public Libraries on the rise, data shows
CHICAGO (WGN) — Chicago Public Libraries welcome millions of visitors every year. But some library workers fear there's not enough being done to keep those visitors and staffers safe. 'Every day is not an emergency at the library,' said Adrienne Seely, a Chicago librarian. 'But we always have to be ready to potentially be one.' Chicago Police data, reviewed by WGN Investigates, shows there were 126 reported crimes at libraries citywide in 2021, including theft, sex offenses and battery. Last year, that total number had more than doubled to 342. About 40 percent of the reported crimes involved theft. Another 20 percent included sexual offenses, assault and battery, the data showed. 'I think we'll see that increase [this year],' said Christopher Crotwell, a Chicago librarian. 'I don't think there's a way we don't see that increase.' In response, the union that represents the city's librarians has asked for increased safety measures, such as panic buttons and more surveillance cameras. In a statement, a library spokesman said many of those measures are already in place. WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud 'More than half of [Chicago Public Libraries] are already equipped with cameras and panic buttons, with a multi-year plan underway to ensure every location has these tools in place,' the spokesman said. (The full statement is below) Alexi Giannoulias is Illinois' Secretary of State. He is backing legislation that he says would help improve safety at libraries in Chicago and throughout the state, by allowing grant money to be used to for extra safety measures, such as cameras. '[The bill] doesn't cost taxpayers anything,' he said. 'It just allows us to take the library grants and use them for security measures.' The bill still needs to pass the Illinois General Assembly. Library statement: 'Like many large, urban library systems, we face complex safety challenges—and at CPL, we meet them with urgency, care, and a deep commitment to our mission. Our staff are on the frontlines every day, and their experiences shape the way we respond. In the past year, CPL has taken clear, proactive steps to improve safety across our 81 libraries. In addition to assigned security coverage at each library, we've expanded trauma-informed training, upgraded infrastructure, and launched a new CPL Safety Task Force developed in partnership with AFSCME, NAMI Chicago—a leading mental health organization—and staff from libraries across the city. More than half of CPL libraries are already equipped with cameras and panic buttons, with a multi-year plan underway to ensure every location has these tools in place. Public-facing staff are completing over 10 hours of mental health and de-escalation training, and staff-led working groups are helping to guide improvements to our internal safety protocols. This work aligns with broader City efforts to advance community safety and wellness and reflects ongoing collaboration across departments and community partners. Our goal remains clear: every CPL library must be a place where staff feel supported, families feel safe, and all Chicagoans can learn, connect, and thrive.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
