Libraries as homeless centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Public libraries have rules against sleeping, which they will and do enforce. Go to a staff member if you see someone sleeping.

As for homeless people using library services, that is their right just like its your right as long as they follow the library rules.

Seriously?! I've taken my share of naps in libraries.

In a college library or a public library?

No, you're not supposed to sleep in a public library.

https://www.dclibrary.org/behavior
Rule #6 under Category One

This is a common rule in all public libraries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Public libraries have rules against sleeping, which they will and do enforce. Go to a staff member if you see someone sleeping.

As for homeless people using library services, that is their right just like its your right as long as they follow the library rules.

Seriously?! I've taken my share of naps in libraries.

In a college library or a public library?

No, you're not supposed to sleep in a public library.

https://www.dclibrary.org/behavior
Rule #6 under Category One


This is a common rule in all public libraries.

Yeah, but no one is going to report a well-dressed, nicely groomed young white woman like me for having a quick snooze in the library. The rule is applied unevenly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Public libraries have rules against sleeping, which they will and do enforce. Go to a staff member if you see someone sleeping.

As for homeless people using library services, that is their right just like its your right as long as they follow the library rules.

Seriously?! I've taken my share of naps in libraries.

In a college library or a public library?

No, you're not supposed to sleep in a public library.

https://www.dclibrary.org/behavior
Rule #6 under Category One

This is a common rule in all public libraries.

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Public libraries have rules against sleeping, which they will and do enforce. Go to a staff member if you see someone sleeping.

As for homeless people using library services, that is their right just like its your right as long as they follow the library rules.

Seriously?! I've taken my share of naps in libraries.

In a college library or a public library?

No, you're not supposed to sleep in a public library.

https://www.dclibrary.org/behavior
Rule #6 under Category One


This is a common rule in all public libraries.

Yeah, but no one is going to report a well-dressed, nicely groomed young white woman like me for having a quick snooze in the library. The rule is applied unevenly.

As it should be! Context is everything. Btw, I’m not against homeless coming in to check their email and and check out a book. I’m against loitering and using it as a place to sit & rest. To keep warm. To use the restroom to change and wash up (grosss). I live in an area where there are so many homeless and while I was once very sympathetic, I’m not any more. I’m practical and realistic and think libraries should be a place for children, neighbors, and no I don’t consider homeless to be community members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Public libraries have rules against sleeping, which they will and do enforce. Go to a staff member if you see someone sleeping.

As for homeless people using library services, that is their right just like its your right as long as they follow the library rules.

Seriously?! I've taken my share of naps in libraries.

In a college library or a public library?

No, you're not supposed to sleep in a public library.

https://www.dclibrary.org/behavior
Rule #6 under Category One

This is a common rule in all public libraries.

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The homeless generally have one or all of the following:
mental illness/ alcoholism/ addiction/ prior felon (unable to get jobs)

Many don't want public services because of the screening.

Your generalization of the homeless is very convenient. Reducing them to one-dimensional caricatures thru disparaging labels takes away their humanity allowing you to be unapologetically apathetic to their individual experiences and challenges. Good job

I'm the original poster here. My comment comes from someone who has served 23,000 lunches (self funded) once a week on the street to homeless who lined up for
lunch. How many homeless have you personally fed, clothed or homed with your personal monies?

Generally the homeless also help each other, live in camps and have self appointed leaders. Again, my comments came from someone who has actually served
23,000 lunches (self funded) to the unhomed.

How many homeless have you fed? On your own monies?

As my artisan childhood friend who fell into depression after the death of his mother and slowly spiraled into steadily worsening circumstances resulting in him being homeless would say, "If you gonna draw my picture then use the whole damn box don't try and color me with just one crayon and think you've captured my essence."

So like I said, reducing the homeless to one-dimensional caricatures thru disparaging labels takes away their humanity and it doesn't matter how many lunches you've served or how many monies you've donated.
If you're offended because I had the audacity think you're a presumptuous pissant and didn't take into account the entirety of your individual life experiences how do you think the homeless people you conveniently simplify as drunks, addicts, and felons feel? You think they'd be offended by your dismissal of their individual life experiences?

Your friend did not say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

So if I'm sitting there, reading a book while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door, and I droop off for a quick nap, then the librarians should throw me out? Because that's an inappropriate use of the library?

How about if I'm sitting there playing Candy Crush on my phone while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door. Is that an inappropriate use of the library, since I'm neither reading nor using information sources?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

So if I'm sitting there, reading a book while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door, and I droop off for a quick nap, then the librarians should throw me out? Because that's an inappropriate use of the library?

How about if I'm sitting there playing Candy Crush on my phone while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door. Is that an inappropriate use of the library, since I'm neither reading nor using information sources?

By your account, you would be using the library appropriately. Perhaps a librarian would rouse you and offer a more exciting book?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

So if I'm sitting there, reading a book while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door, and I droop off for a quick nap, then the librarians should throw me out? Because that's an inappropriate use of the library?

How about if I'm sitting there playing Candy Crush on my phone while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door. Is that an inappropriate use of the library, since I'm neither reading nor using information sources?

Are you homeless?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

So if I'm sitting there, reading a book while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door, and I droop off for a quick nap, then the librarians should throw me out? Because that's an inappropriate use of the library?

How about if I'm sitting there playing Candy Crush on my phone while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door. Is that an inappropriate use of the library, since I'm neither reading nor using information sources?

Are you homeless?

How would you know if she is/isn't homeless?
You just going on sight? "Well she looks homeless so let's kick her out."
Whereas if she didn't look homeless it'd be fine for her to sit there and nap or play on her phone for hours.
How is that not class discrimination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why? Please explain the justification for a ban on sleeping (or the appearance of sleeping!) in public libraries.

To ensure appropriate use of the library, which is reading and using information sources. Not sleeping or other activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, or doing drugs.

So if I'm sitting there, reading a book while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door, and I droop off for a quick nap, then the librarians should throw me out? Because that's an inappropriate use of the library?

How about if I'm sitting there playing Candy Crush on my phone while waiting for my kid to finish her dance class next door. Is that an inappropriate use of the library, since I'm neither reading nor using information sources?

Are you homeless?

How would you know if she is/isn't homeless?
You just going on sight? "Well she looks homeless so let's kick her out."
Whereas if she didn't look homeless it'd be fine for her to sit there and nap or play on her phone for hours.
How is that not class discrimination?

YES! What are you dim??

[Anonymous]

So if you’ve got a Louis Vuitton purse and designer jeans you’re free to loiter in the library all day. But if you’re carrying a plastic bag and wearing dirty jeans you got 5 minutes to pick up a book or you get kicked out.

Yay social equality!!

[Anonymous]

Why not follow the example of states that have been successful in combating homelessness? Indiana has the second lowest rate of chronic homelessness in the country, after Ohio. DC's rate was 38 times higher in 2018. That is 1 in 394 people compared to Indiana at 1 in 14,900. Indiana has a law against public intoxication that allows for jail time of up to 180 days. You could argue that this is too harsh. I would argue that it sends the message to people that there is a steep price to pay for throwing your life away to drugs, and the state will not sit idly by and watch you do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you’ve got a Louis Vuitton purse and designer jeans you’re free to loiter in the library all day. But if you’re carrying a plastic bag and wearing dirty jeans you got 5 minutes to pick up a book or you get kicked out.

Yay social equality!!

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not follow the example of states that have been successful in combating homelessness? Indiana has the second lowest rate of chronic homelessness in the country, after Ohio. DC's rate was 38 times higher in 2018. That is 1 in 394 people compared to Indiana at 1 in 14,900. Indiana has a law against public intoxication that allows for jail time of up to 180 days. You could argue that this is too harsh. I would argue that it sends the message to people that there is a steep price to pay for throwing your life away to drugs, and the state will not sit idly by and watch you do it.

Me thinks it’s no coincidence that Indiana has that “steep price” and is one of the states with the highest percentage of for-profit-prisons in the country.