Smoking ban expanded at all Greene libraries

Prohibition extends inside buildings to entire properties.

You can no longer smoke or vape outside a Greene County Public Library.

Smoking is not allowed inside the buildings, and now the new policy that went into effect Thursday expands the smoking ban to the entire properties of all seven locations in the Greene County Public Library network, including lawns, parking lots and walkways.

The change will ensure that public spaces outside library buildings are enjoyable and welcoming to all library patrons, said Karl Colón, Greene County Public Library Director.

“We’ve had a number of folks from the public over many years express concerns about having to walk through smoke in the walkways,” Colón said.

The Greene County library system and the health department have been working together on this move. Back in December, the library board voted to approve the change.

“This is a national movement that’s occurring with many outdoor spaces, national parks and local and city parks,” said Shernaz Reporter of Greene County Public Health. “Any campus that has the public on it — we are working toward making them smoke-free.”

Library staff members will be asking those who are used to smoking on the property not to do so. “We will be gently, as best as we can, graciously asking folks not to smoke,” Colón said.

Health officials said they are also pushing tobacco 21, a policy that would require people to be 21 years old if they want to purchase any type of tobacco product.

Greene County Public Library has branches in Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Cedarville, Fairborn, Jamestown, Xenia and Yellow Springs.

The change is welcome news to Yellow Springs resident Mark Alexander.

“I think they should have done it years ago,” Alexander said. “There’s a lot of kids that come here after school. They don’t need to be around people smoking.”