Somerville to hire private security guard as library deals with dangerous, disruptive behavior
SOMERVILLE, Mass. September 26 2024
The city of Somerville is considering private security guards to keep the Central Library open after dangerous and disruptive teen behavior forced officials to close the facility for several hours during the day.
The library is right next to the high school, which makes it an easy spot for teens to gather after school, officials said.
For the past three weeks, the library has closed from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. most weekdays at about the same time school is dismissed. The city said it made the schedule change to better understand the community’s needs.
Cameras have been installed inside and outside the Central Library to help keep staff and visitors safe.
Library administrators said they are in the process of hiring security so they can reopen to normal hours.
“We are interviewing vendors to provide onsite security trained in de-escalation. Our preference is for a vendor with experience with youth and other populations who frequent the library,” Neha Singh, a legislative liaison in the mayor’s office, said.
The library is also working to create programs that better serve the community and teens who use its facilities. It’s also hiring a social worker to respond to the needs of at-risk adults and children.
Students and teachers said that there have been problems with a handful of students smoking, swearing and fighting outside the library, and on occasion, the issues have moved inside the library.
“It is not OK to throw fireworks inside of a building or (use it) for fights,” Somerville City Councilor Kristen Strezo said.
“Security sounds like a private form of policing,” parent Damon Sidel said. “It doesn’t have a place in a public library.”
The mayor’s office said barring any hold ups, they will be reinstating full hours at the Central Library by the end of next week.
