PUBLIC RIGHT TO DOUBT SAFETY OF MAIN LIBRARY
Open drug use in Frances Morrison branch underlines social realities of our downtown
Shocking is the only word to describe the brutal rape, and murder last week of a librarian in Ottawa, with Saskatchewan connections. Before one dismisses this as another “big city story,” then you probably haven’t been in the basement of the Frances Morrison branch recently.
I am an unapologetic fan of libraries. In addition to a love of reading, these days, libraries provide far more than books. Weekly story times, teen homework groups, computer classes for seniors and the like transform libraries into community centres with something to offer to everyone. All programming is free, ensuring accessibility for all.
Over the past year, I have volunteered time with a free legal clinic. The clinic is held in various locations around Saskatoon, usually in libraries. The evenings that I have volunteered, have typically been at the Frances Morrison branch.
You can imagine the surprise when I arrived in the basement of frances morrison, only to find a number of people unabashedly using drugs down there. This went on for an entire evening. Further, in the women’s wash- room, a man and a woman were bathing a baby in the sink, doing laundry and making bottles.
With respect to the two people bathing their baby in the public washroom, people doing illegal drugs in the basement of the library is a security issue, bathing ababyisnot.
A public building with free access, on a cold winter night, unfortunately, may be the best choice for homeless parents to clean their baby.
It probably wasn’t the first, or last, time someone has used the library facilities for basic needs. It’s a sign of desperation in the face of abject poverty. Those parents needed help.
Librarians are trained in the science of literacy and information technology, not social work. However, similar to the Saskatoon Police Service bringing in paramedics to their detention cell unit, it may be time to examine the range of resources provided by the library. This may not necessarily be the responsibility of the library board, per se, but certainly the opportunity to start a conversation with the provincial Health Ministry.
The operation of a building with public access has got to come to grips with some of the social realities faced by Saskatoon, which means having people available who are trained to assist those who are bathing their baby in a public washroom.
Drug use in the library is a different issue. Public libraries are the last mecca of free access to books and children’s programming. With the joy of free access, comes the responsibility of ensuring patrons, and the staff, are safe. And allowing people to huff drugs in the basement of a public building is not safe.
People resorting to openly using drugs in the library basement have a desperate addiction and, likely, mental-health issues as well. It is a dangerous combination to have so close to unsuspecting families with children, seniors and a predominantly female staff — likely the same lethal mixture of issues that led to the rape, and murder, of the Ottawa librarian. Suddenly, the story in Ottawa strikes a little closer to home.
The open drug use continued for the length of time that I attended the volunteer program in the basement, which was approximately two hours. There did not seem to be any monitoring by staff as to what was happening on the lower level. I now understand I am not the first person to witness illegal activities, on various days, in the basement of the library. Left unchecked, this situation puts everyone at an increasing amount of risk. With drug use comes drug trade.
Libraries are a vital pillar to the health of our community. However, their strength is based on positioning themselves to citizens as a welcoming, accessible and safe place. People may be more willing to support a new library with reassurance these fundamental principles will be maintained.