WKYC released an investigative report on Monday night about the criminal behavior of patrons in the Cleveland Public Library system. The story uncovered some concerning statistics that more than justified the CPL’s decision to add more security cameras and patrolling guards across its 27 branches, and WKYC even met with CPL’s executive director, Felton Thomas, to learn more about the reportedly rampant criminal activities occurring within library walls.
Thomas’s perspective is vital, as are the hard facts and numbers, but WKYC’s investigation unfortunately did not include the perspective of daily library staff members or patrons, nor did it discuss the factors or influences that may be responsible for criminal activity taking place in the library.
CPL librarian Terry Metter, speaking for himself and not on behalf of the CPL, expressed concern about the WKYC report.
Libraries are more than just centers for late fees on paperbacks, they’re sanctuaries and community centers, one of the last refuges where anyone is welcome, and Ohioans use their libraries at one of the highest per capita rates in the country even as the state has severely cut funding.
More than half of young adults and seniors living in poverty utilize public libraries to access the internet to find work, apply to college, secure government benefits, learn about medical treatments and become more informed voters.
According to the American Library Association (ALA), librarians in public and academic libraries across the country answer nearly 6.6 million questions every week. These questions may relate to the normally assumed book recommendations, but librarians also offer assistance in computer and internet training, job applications and resume writing, and filling out government forms including tax and health insurance paperwork, all for the low-low price of absolutely free.
Libraries also offer the critical safe and free refuge for anyone seeking shelter in addition to support to those in need. Libraries are a vital tool for those struggling the most on the socio-economic scale and can be the only resource available to assist in bringing them out of poverty.
As the 2016 Census Bureau data shows, 57.9% of Clevelanders living in poverty are African-American. Given that those from low-income households are most likely to utilize the library’s resources, the previously mentioned report acknowledges the criminal statistics but not any of the factors that are the driving forces behind them.
Ohioans use their libraries at one of the highest per capita rates in the country even as the state has severely cut funding. TV stations aren’t exactly in the business of nuance, but scary headlines about crime in libraries and dangerous narratives about the people that patronize them demand context and WKYC failed to deliver it.
This article appears in Apr 25 – May 1, 2018.
The best one of these “sweeps month scare stories” was the “poison in our playgrounds” story. A number of years ago, some asshat literally ran all over an empty playground and breathlessly gasped out a warning that kids can become sick and die if they EAT THE TREATED WOOD in some of the playground equipment. They just make all this shit up! Every February, May, and November. SAME SHIT, DIFFERENT YEAR!
I laughed my ass off at the playground story.. And it was so bad, it was good, I recorded it and saved it.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE STUPID STORIES. Channel 3 News should be laughed out of town.
Context? Trying to justify crime as usual. People used to use libraries to study and get books. Who decided it should be a community center for local thugs? Pretty sure no one voted to fund that. The left appropriates another institution, again without spending a dime of their own money. Just the facts is fine with me when reporting crime. Thugs are thugs in any context.
WKYC doesn’t even know that the branch on Fulton Road is named “Carnegie West” (were they just trying to use negative innuendo by naming Fulton Road?) And those people drinking outside the Carnegie West branch were actually in Novak Park which surrounds the CW branch. Many people with issues such as homelessness use social services available at locations around the Lorain/Fulton intersection area, so it’s no surprise they spend time in public places like the City’s Novak Park and the CW branch. Pointless WKYC investigation. Too bad they aren’t tackling stories that might actually affect constructive outcomes.
Always justifying bad behavior. Crime in any context is unacceptable. The scum infecting this county has the full support of the media. Libraries should be wholesome places to go, not places where leftists, drug dealers, demented people and perverts have a safe space to operate.
More keystrokes from the same old spamming right-wing troll, who never shuts his pie-hole.
Always parroting the same old shit: crime., scum, leftists, drug dealers, demented, perverts, safe spaces. You need a new book of trite button-pushing buzzwords, asshat…isn’t your old one getting beat-up and falling apart by now?