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Booking bad behavior Disruptive acts a concern at library

by Brian Walker; Staff Writer
| December 4, 2018 12:00 AM

POST FALLS — Police and library staff are teaming up to dismantle disruptive acts around the Post Falls Library.

With a bus stop, warming center and multiple schools in the vicinity, the library is a popular afternoon hangout — even for some who have no interest in reading.

With such traffic, complaints such as smoking too close to the entrance, damaging property, loitering, harassment, cursing and other disruptive acts have followed.

"Generally, the issues we deal with there are juvenile-related problems such as smoking or disruptive behavior," said Post Falls Police Capt. Jason Mealer. "There have been times we have dealt with issues of homeless people sleeping inside, but that is less common."

Mealer said police responded to 15 calls for service at the library in October, compared to nine during the same month last year.

"We strongly encourage the public to let us know if they are having a problem at the library," Mealer said. "We work hard to keep our community safe and enjoyable and will be responsive in dealing with their problems."

Calls police respond to are those that can't be addressed immediately by library staff, which has its own monitor for such issues during peak times.

"The monitor circulates throughout the building and the grounds to stop problems," said Anne Abrams, Community Library Network communications director. "It helps that she knows most of the kids by name."

But some parents have had enough of the disruptions.

"I've complained multiple times," Juju Munson wrote in a message to The Press. "Is there nothing they can do about it? I will never take my kids again and it's a shame because they love reading. Safety comes first."

Mealer said the police department is aware of the complaints and has and will be patrolling the property during peak times.

"We ask officers to drive through the area to be a deterrent," he said. "We don't decide who can or cannot go to the library, and rely on (library staff) calling us if they want someone trespassed."

Abrams said the library's relationship with the police department has been "excellent." She said the district has rules of conduct to determine if people will be trespassed for up to a year.

Prohibited acts or situations include — but aren’t limited to — being under the influence, possessing or using alcohol or illegal drugs, disruptive behaviors, intimidation, gambling, lying or sleeping on the floor or tables, smoking within 25 feet of the entrance, loitering, using skateboards and bikes on walkways leading to entrances, having offensive body odor, sleeping overnight and shaving or bathing in the restrooms.

"We are a mecca for teens, especially after school," Abrams said. "We are also an attractive, safe and warm public space for (homeless people). For the most part, they are not disruptive, although they may show signs of intoxication from time to time.

"If they violate our rules of conduct, then we deal appropriately with their behavior."

Abrams said damage to property is rare and there are surveillance cameras on the property to document violations.

Inside the library, a new teen area is being constructed to hopefully encourage students to gather there rather than present juvenile-related issues outside, library staff said.

In 2016, when the district held community meetings about library services, the top concern was teens loitering near entrances and being noisy in the library. Teens have recently been using a smaller area inside that lacks charging stations.

"A lot of teens don't hang out there because it's like a fish bowl where everybody can see them," John Hartung, Community Library Network director said earlier.