Although funding for security at Gilbert’s two public libraries has been restored, the town is exploring its options before adding personnel.
At a study session earlier this week, the Town Council was briefed on an action plan that included library staff training, increased police walk-throughs and exploration of additional security cameras. Returning security guards to the facilities — the Southeast Regional Library and Perry branch library — is a possibility, mayor John Lewis said.
“From the study session, my feeling is that we have set the policy — safety — and we have professionals in the town who have provided options, and we’ll start working through them,” Lewis said. “If one doesn’t provide the results we want, we’ll move on to the next one. Having two security officers there is still being considered, but we’ll take a systematic approach and gather more data.”
Budget cuts resulted in the guards’ elimination in July. Between then and April, library staff logged 14 incidents ranging from disagreements regarding fines, verbal abuse of staff, inappropriate use of computers and material theft. Community services director Jim Norman said his office was not notified of the incidents until May.
“The biggest thing for me was to go from July until May and not hear anything from anyone in the library system. That makes me think, ‘How bad was it?’ ” Norman said. “But I cannot negate that. I don’t think the Council is, either.
“Because it is close to the end of the fiscal year and with a new Council coming in, there is a lot to absorb.”
The libraries are part of the Maricopa County Library District. Under terms of a five-year agreement that began in July 2006, the town pays operating costs for the Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road, and reimburses the county for costs for the Perry branch, 1965 E. Queen Creek Road.
The agreement is up for renewal, and changes in security staffing would be included in the contract.
“We’d like to sit down with library district to determine the best direction forward,” Gilbert management assistant Melanie Dykstra said. “We want to make sure we are aware of their needs.”
The security funding was approved at the June 9 Council meeting, as part of the town’s final budget of $613 million for fiscal 2011-12.
An item regarding library security was on the agenda at Thursday’s Council meeting to allow public comments. The next Council meeting is scheduled for July 28.
“I think we’ll have a better idea (of how to proceed) by the July meeting,” Dykstra said.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6301 or dzeiger@evtrib.com
Evalleyguy posted at 5:15 pm on Thu, Jun 23, 2011.
Willing to bet it's 90-100K for two security guards... Waste of money... invest it into high quality cameras and security systems.
Guards are essentially a waste and then you have potential liabilities if a Guard does something improper.
With the current plan of a police presence who needs Guards standing around.
SafetyPrivacy posted at 5:53 pm on Thu, Jun 23, 2011.
Gilbert should check out a new safety technology that libraries around the country are deploying which also protects patrons’ privacy. It’s the best of both worlds – safety and privacy. This technology places “eyelids” over the cameras, so that they are only opened when needed. It also gives employees wireless emergency buttons - If danger arises, with the push of one of these buttons, the camera's eyelids open, and emergency notifications are sent to the police, which detail who pressed the button and where they are in the building. At the same time, live video of the situation can be viewed at dispatch centers and on smart phones. Saw this article about it: http://www.wickedlocal.com/marshfield/news/x1107764949/Cameras-installed-in-four-town-buildings#axzz1Pofo84AL
yankeedj posted at 6:22 pm on Thu, Jun 23, 2011.
I am sorry but my daughter works at the library and the young ladies working there have all types of creeps following them around and harassing them. What are they to do? There use to be more guys on the staff, however, they have one who works nights with them. They now have to wait for everyone to be done at night when the library closes so they all can go out to their cars in a group. I think a security guard for the staff's safety should be a real priority.