Printer Man has been BANNED!

Richard Stark, (Printer Man) has been banned from the library after his latest attempt to "steal" copies and his general ranting and raving. Tonight he wouldn't leave and we ended up closing late, he tried to take copies without paying by stuffing them in his pockets, and he argued with me YET AGAIN about being banned from the computers and his inappropriate and disruptive behavior. I told him IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that he is no longer welcome in the library - but I fully expect that he will be back.

I have spoken to the Police Chief as well as Officer Reinhold about him, and they advised me to "trespass" him if he comes in again.

So, if he comes in, please do not engage with him at all. If I am in the building, just let me know that he is here and I will call the police and have them come "trespass" him and remove him. If I am not here, please call my cell, and I will advise you from there. If I am unable to be reached, just call the police, tell them that he has been told that he is not welcome in the library due to his previous behavior, and have them come remove him. Again, please do not approach or deal with him - we'll let the police handle it from here on out.

If you have any questions or concerns about this situation, please come see me.

Thanks!

Crazy Train

As some of you know, we have had more problems with "Crazy Printer Guy." The other day, I told him that he was no longer allowed to use the computers at all, and I told him why (and he knows exactly why). He then went an a rant about how he was being treated like a child, on and on and on, and then he left. I didn't expect him to return.

But, return he did, on Saturday, where he proceeded to give Sue a hard time. He was being fairly creepy. My guess is he's off his meds - he was never combative before, and he always looked clean and presentable, and now he is being somewhat aggressive and his hygiene has taken a downturn, I noticed.

SO....

He is NOT allowed to use the computer - period. If you find him using the computer, tell me. If I am not there, tell Cindy or Sue. He is to be asked to leave the library. IF HE WON'T LEAVE OR IF YOU EVER FEEL CREEPED OUT OR THREATENED BY HIM, DO NOT HESITATE TO THREATEN TO CALL THE POLICE - AND THEN CALL THEM IF HE DOES NOT COOPERATE. Whatever his mental health issue is, it seems to be escalating, so never hesitate to call for help.

At this point he is not banned from the library, but if I (or anyone else) have to speak to him one more time about the computers, he will be, and I will let you know.

Questions, please see me.

Thanks!!

Food for Thought - Security Gates

I am starting the process of choosing the security gates for the front door....

I just want everyone to consider what this may (or may not) mean for how your job is performed. Having security gates means:

• magnetic security strips will have to be put in ALL (new) books and DVDs (we will not be putting strips in the old books, but we WILL be putting strips in ALL of the DVDs on the shelves)
• the items will need to be de-magnetized upon check-out (that usually entails running the spine over a special pad)
• if an item is not demagnetized, the sensor at the door will beep
• if the sensor beeps, someone (and I would assume that it would be reference most times because they are closest to the door) will have to stop the patron and find out what the issue is

So, in a nutshell, this is going to mean either extra work, and extra "step," or extra "dealing with crap" skills for most all of you. It will mean that I will have to deal with the people trying to steal our stuff.

My professional feeling is that having the gates will cut down on the theft that still happens in spite of the cameras (I think the cameras have helped a lot, but they do not deter everyone). I think the gates will help us identify - and then more appropriately deal with - problem patrons. I think that a building this size and in this area NEEDS gates, and that it should have been done when the building was built. And I know that if I don't spend the money NOW to have it done, the money will be reabsorbed into the Town coffers, and we will NOT have the opportunity to do this down the road.

That said, I want to you to think about the things I mentioned above, and how you feel about the impact. If you think we need a meeting on this, then we can do that. If you feel like you need more information on how it works, then PLEASE ask me. If you have other concerns, then I need to know that, too. NOW is the time for discussion and problem-solving on this - not after the plan is in the works. So, give it some thought, and let me know what you think.

Alarming News, Part 3

After speaking with the Friends....

On Author's Friday days, PLEASE LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS before you leave - even the front doors. They will prop the door open for late-comers, and then the door will be locked when they close it behind them.

Thanks!

Security Cameras

Yay - we have the new security cameras installed and fully functioning.

There are seven cameras - three in the dvd and magazine area, one on the public access computers, one that overlooks the back emergency exit door, one outside on the front, and one outside on the back door. I will happily show you what the cameras look at so that you can get an idea if suspicious activity might have been caught on camera.

The cameras constantly record to a DVR in my office. Because the DVR was the most expensive part of the system (and the part that contains the eveidence, if needed), it needed to be installed in a secure location and my office will be locked when I am not here. If a problem arrises when I am here, I can simply review the tape and copy anything to a thumb drive that may be of importance to police (or whatever). When I am not here, please just take note of day and time that suspicious activity occured, and I will review tape upon my return.

I have posted signs alerting people to the fact that we now have security cameras in use - hopefully the signs alone will work toward cutting down on some of the theft.

If you have questions, please come see me.

Emergency Exit Only

Starting on Tuesday, the Hall street entrance will become and EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY - meaning that we will not be unlocking that door anymore.

As everyone knows, we have been having problems with theft, especially in the area of DVDs and magazines. So, we will be having CAMERAS installed (hopefully soon!) in the library, AND (eventually) a security gate installed on the main (side) entrance. Since this will necessitate closing the Hall street entrance anyway, we might as well do it sooner rather than later to get the patrons used to it (and have it be new policy BEFORE the summer insanity starts).

As of Tuesday morning, signs will be posted on the Hall street entrance letting patrons know that that door is no longer an entrance. You will not unlock that door in the mornings. Naturally, it will remain an emergency exit. I will be in touch with Cape Cod Alarm to see about having that door on a chime like the exit down near non-fiction.

I realize that this will take some getting used to, it will be a pain in the beginning to have to remind people that it is an emergency exit only, and that there is bound to be some griping from some patrons. However, I think that in the long run, it will really help towards cutting down on the theft of materials, which is a real problem that I am doing my best to address. If you get a particularly upset patron, please send them to see me.

Thanks!

Spring Security

The weather is finally starting to warm up, and as we all know it's been warm in here anyway - and patrons are taking it upon themselves to open windows! So this is just another reminder to make sure you check the windows each night.

Also, be sure that all of the "inner doors" are locked - the door between the meeting room and the library (next to the copier) has been left unlocked a couple of times.

Thanks!

WINDOWS

Spring Reminder

Please make sure to check all the windows at closing time and make sure they are closed and locked.

Looks like a window was left open all weekend, probably because a patron opened it at some point and it just wasn't noticed.

Thanks!

Door Locks

Last night, the door lock on the front door (right side) jammed and we could not lock the door. This was a problem that was probably a long time in coming...

The locksmith was able to repair it and stressed that when locking and unlocking the doors, we should be pushing the bar in while turning the key to take pressure off of the locking mechanism.

If you have trouble with any of the locks, please let me know.

Thanks!