Boulder library reports sharp decline in security problems - Boulder Daily Camera
http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_19854925
Security officer Lorin Phillips, from G4S, a Florida-based security company, patrols the grounds outside of the main branch of the Boulder Public Library on Monday. Incidents at the library have fallen 73 percent since the city began using armed private security officers, along with surveillance cameras and changes to the physical layout of the library, to ensure patrons follow the rules. ( MARK LEFFINGWELL )
The following numbers are broken down by year -- 2009, 2010, 2011
Total reported incidents -- 185, 122, 50
Intoxication / Drugs -- 60, 36, 10
Assault -- 14, 3, 0
Trespassing -- 7, 12, 7
Computer misuse -- 10, 14, 9
Harassment -- 22, 3, 3
Theft -- 12, 6, 0
Sleeping -- 5, 2, 2
Suspicious activity -- 8, 9, 1
Disturbances -- 17, 12, 12
Medical -- 4, 2, 3
Alarms -- 2, 2, 2
Miscellaneous -- 24, 21, 1
The cost of library security
2011 -- $85,329
2010 -- $80,550
2009 -- $57,860
In the three years since the Boulder Public Library began hiring private security guards, the number of reported incidents at the main library branch downtown have fallen to record lows.
According to city records, the number of reported incidents -- ranging from assaults and trespassing to theft and intoxicated people -- totaled just 50 in 2011. That's down 73 percent from a high of 185 reported incidents during 2009, the first full year of the security patrols.
"This is good news for us," said Jennifer Bray, a spokeswoman for the library. "It is a safe place to be. That is one of our No. 1 goals."
The library began paying for armed private security in 2008 on a part-time basis after library officials said they noticed more fights inside the building, as well as people yelling at the staff or generally making fellow patrons feel unsafe. The patrols have been full-time since 2009.
"Having that presence really helps," Bray said. "The person on duty patrols the whole building constantly. He's very pleasant, unless he sees something that's not abiding by the rules."
The library has posted a list of rules for behavior at every entrance. The 17 rules include that library patrons may not sleep in the building, or use the bathrooms to bathe or wash clothing; possess weapons; commit indecent exposure; steal; smoke; or make persistent noises that disturb other patrons.
The library contracts with G4S, a Florida-based security company. Last year, the service cost the library about $85,000. Bray said the security guards have gotten to know the "regulars" at the library over the last few years, which has gone a long way toward reducing the number of problems.
"They really know the regular folks who are in there every day," she said of the guards. "They have a relationship. It's not a heavy-handed kind of presence."
In addition to the guards, the library has invested in surveillance cameras and made changes to the physical layout of the library so that employees and guards can more easily see what people are doing.
And in November, Boulder voters approved a $49 million bond measure that includes money for relocating the children's area of the main library to an upper landing area, which currently contains the teen area and adult fiction.
Johanna Vernon, a Boulder nanny who was watching over two small children at the library on Monday, said she never feels unsafe at or around the library.
"I've never had any concerns about being here with the kids," she said, adding that she views Boulder as being a generally safe community.
But Rita Batiste, co-owner of the Strawberry Farm preschool in Boulder, was more circumspect as she herded four energetic 2 and 3 year olds through the children's section.
"On the whole, if you want to bring your child here, I think it's safe," she said. "You just never leave the children unattended -- ever."
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