Final News Report

Final News Report
"Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries"
Susan Saulny, NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/us/02library.html?_r=1

The Library in Arlington Heights in Illinoise has tried make itself as user friendly and up-to-date as possible in these modern times. Lately, however, it seems that the patrons frequenting the library are in need of more than just a helping hand finding a book. It seems as though the economic crisis that is plaguing our country today is affecting the library in an unseen way. People, apparently with no job and nowhere to go are turning to the library more and more as a sort of haven in these toubled times. And while this increase in patronage can be seen as good thing, it is in reality a mixed blessing. Recently on April 1st two homeless men fought eachother for some unknown reason on the steps of the library and their altercation ended with one man being stabbed six times and let for dead. The librarians of Arlington library feel ill-equiped to deal with this new aspect of their job; afterall they are librarians and not counselors. The stresses have become so pressing that a staff theripist is going to employeed to help the librarians deal with these new matters. It is the fervent hope of all involved that "things get better" soon.

To me this is nothing new. The town where I grew up in always had a few homless people hanging around in the local library. While I see this increase as unfortunate and unaccptiable, I also find it knid of lame that it is not being better delt with. The homless in my town who were at the library often found employment there because they knew the place so well. And if not employment they found education and skills to help them find jobs. I think that instead of fretting and wringing our hands we should be helping these people as well. It isnt reall all that difficult to try. To get resulst, maybe, but it is not hard to get the ball rolling.