Reston Library

[Anonymous]

OP, I couldn't agree more and I'm very glad to see the PC crowd hasn't found their way to your post yet. I had posted something similar last year and was pounced on by people saying I was "an intolerant bigot" because I didn't feel mentally ill homeless people belong in the same space as children. And this was after I described how my 12 yr. old daughter was catcalled and harassed by three homeless men hanging out in front of the library as we were walking in.

It's unacceptable that these people, many of whom exhibit erratic and aggressive behavior, are permitted to spend their days loitering, monopolizing the computers, and sleeping in a space that is being paid for by taxpayers. Some of them camp out in the individual study carrolls too, and glare at us when we get near them. Some have followed my kids through the stacks as they were looking for books.

The fact that the shelter next door is open 24 hrs. only makes this even more egregious. They could stay there and receive social services from the county, if need be.

Except for this issue, I actually like the Reston library, and FC libraries in general. But I see no reason why any public library should be expected to put up with this issue, ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I couldn't agree more and I'm very glad to see the PC crowd hasn't found their way to your post yet. I had posted something similar last year and was pounced on by people saying I was "an intolerant bigot" because I didn't feel mentally ill homeless people belong in the same space as children. And this was after I described how my 12 yr. old daughter was catcalled and harassed by three homeless men hanging out in front of the library as we were walking in.

It's unacceptable that these people, many of whom exhibit erratic and aggressive behavior, are permitted to spend their days loitering, monopolizing the computers, and sleeping in a space that is being paid for by taxpayers. Some of them camp out in the individual study carrolls too, and glare at us when we get near them. Some have followed my kids through the stacks as they were looking for books.

The fact that the shelter next door is open 24 hrs. only makes this even more egregious. They could stay there and receive social services from the county, if need be.

Except for this issue, I actually like the Reston library, and FC libraries in general. But I see no reason why any public library should be expected to put up with this issue, ever.

Thank you, PP. I was prepared for an onslaught from the PC crowd, berating me for my intolerant attitude toward the homeless (and probably calling me a Trumpster to boot) and have been presently surprised that they have not had much to say. They must all be arguing on the politics forum!

We are definitely on the same page on this issue, and now that I've learned more about the redevelopment plans, I'm even more appalled. Supervisor Hudgins is well aware that the library has turned into an unsafe environment for children and an unappealing one for adults (who pay for it), and yet the plan is to rebuild that entire area with the homeless shelter STILL near the library? They (oops, I mean WE) are going to put millions into the new library, and it will be a creepy, smelly place in six months.

I'd like to voice my concerns - which I am sure are shared by almost all Restonians - and assume the County will have hearings as plans begin to crystallize. The homeless shelter should be relocated away from where children gather to study.

[Anonymous]

I'm a librarian and the main reason I do NOT work in public libraries is, unfortunately, the public.

I've been assaulted by a homeless man. I've had my student volunteers harassed & threatened. I've caught more masterbaters than I care to recall. I've even had a freaking stapler thrown at me.

Even with all this, I believe in libraries and hope they continue to fill a need. Different people want different things (story time, free internet, a clean bathroom), and it's not my job to judge that.

[Anonymous]

....still the OP....

I've been researching the new plans, and things are going from bad to worse. The plans call to EXPAND the homeless shelter from its current 10,000 sq ft to 25,000 sf! Instead of correcting the problem, they are doubling down, and the library will be taken over completely by a mentally unstable homeless population, Liberal ideology run amok.

[Anonymous]

OP, what do you propose they do that results in the outcome of a functioning and pleasant library space AND serves a growing homeless population effectively and in a humanizing way?

You speak a lot about getting them out of the library, which I get, but you say nothing of the needs the homeless have and that those needs should be met in a compassionate way. I'm interested to hear your solution or desired outcome(s) before I call you a heartless B. And I don't say that because of your complaints - I get them and I agree. I say it because of the way you complain and how it's sounding.

-- Dirty Liberal who found my way to this thread and also grew up in Reston and has family members in those million dollar houses who use the library without complaint

[Anonymous]

I feel really badly for the librarians who are also supposed to be homeless managers. This is a Huge problem in DC where shelter busses actually drop the homeless at libraries in the AM for their day care. Solution? Isn't that why we elect city managers? Call and write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what do you propose they do that results in the outcome of a functioning and pleasant library space AND serves a growing homeless population effectively and in a humanizing way?

You speak a lot about getting them out of the library, which I get, but you say nothing of the needs the homeless have and that those needs should be met in a compassionate way. I'm interested to hear your solution or desired outcome(s) before I call you a heartless B. And I don't say that because of your complaints - I get them and I agree. I say it because of the way you complain and how it's sounding.

-- Dirty Liberal who found my way to this thread and also grew up in Reston and has family members in those million dollar houses who use the library without complaint

I'm a DP but you're being unfair to the OP. Typical 'liberal limousine elite post'. Do your relatives who live in those million dollar houses actually use the library? I find that what happens is a lot of those wealthier families slip the library. They buy books instead for their kids and themselves. Easier to order with a click off of Amazon than scour the shelves. So support for the library goes down.

Personally I LOVE libraries. And my solidly middle class family cannot afford to buy every single book the kids want to read.

So while this issue may not affect your rich family members in their million dollar houses, it certainly does impact the lives of middle class families who moved there for a safe place to raise their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what do you propose they do that results in the outcome of a functioning and pleasant library space AND serves a growing homeless population effectively and in a humanizing way?

You speak a lot about getting them out of the library, which I get, but you say nothing of the needs the homeless have and that those needs should be met in a compassionate way. I'm interested to hear your solution or desired outcome(s) before I call you a heartless B. And I don't say that because of your complaints - I get them and I agree. I say it because of the way you complain and how it's sounding.

-- Dirty Liberal who found my way to this thread and also grew up in Reston and has family members in those million dollar houses who use the library without complaint

I'm a DP but you're being unfair to the OP. Typical 'liberal limousine elite post'. Do your relatives who live in those million dollar houses actually use the library? I find that what happens is a lot of those wealthier families slip the library. They buy books instead for their kids and themselves. Easier to order with a click off of Amazon than scour the shelves. So support for the library goes down.

Personally I LOVE libraries. And my solidly middle class family cannot afford to buy every single book the kids want to read.

So while this issue may not affect your rich family members in their million dollar houses, it certainly does impact the lives of middle class families who moved there for a safe place to raise their kids.

I agree with the dirty liberal....and I am solidly middle class and my dh who grew up in South Reston, and very middle class, would disagree with you. We have toddlers and actually have used the library. I don't get eeked out by homeless people thoigh and I don't want my kids to grow up thinking that it is okay to push homeless people out of public spaces because they are an inconvenience rather than providing actually services for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what do you propose they do that results in the outcome of a functioning and pleasant library space AND serves a growing homeless population effectively and in a humanizing way?

You speak a lot about getting them out of the library, which I get, but you say nothing of the needs the homeless have and that those needs should be met in a compassionate way. I'm interested to hear your solution or desired outcome(s) before I call you a heartless B. And I don't say that because of your complaints - I get them and I agree. I say it because of the way you complain and how it's sounding.

-- Dirty Liberal who found my way to this thread and also grew up in Reston and has family members in those million dollar houses who use the library without complaint

I'm a DP but you're being unfair to the OP. Typical 'liberal limousine elite post'. Do your relatives who live in those million dollar houses actually use the library? I find that what happens is a lot of those wealthier families slip the library. They buy books instead for their kids and themselves. Easier to order with a click off of Amazon than scour the shelves. So support for the library goes down.

Personally I LOVE libraries. And my solidly middle class family cannot afford to buy every single book the kids want to read.

So while this issue may not affect your rich family members in their million dollar houses, it certainly does impact the lives of middle class families who moved there for a safe place to raise their kids.

I agree with the dirty liberal....and I am solidly middle class and my dh who grew up in South Reston, and very middle class, would disagree with you. We have toddlers and actually have used the library. I don't get eeked out by homeless people thoigh and I don't want my kids to grow up thinking that it is okay to push homeless people out of public spaces because they are an inconvenience rather than providing actually services for them.

OP. Well, I see the liberals have found my post.

To the "dirty liberal" upthread, I have not said to get rid of the homeless shelter. But I am giving priority to the innocent children, who should have a clean, safe environment in which to study (and which their parents pay for). My solution is to relocate the homeless shelter at least six blocks from the library, easy enough to do as they are redeveloping that whole area. And since you are questioning my compassion for the homeless, where is your compassion for the pre-teen girls who are ogled and whistled at by these men as they walk into the library?

And to the second PP, how does "pushing them out of the library" equate to not providing services to them? We ARE providing services to them, in the form of the homeless shelter adjacent to the library, with beds, foods, and counseling. Would you be OK if we built it next to your house? I bet not.

BTW, I donate to that shelter. They don't take clothes, but I have given all sorts of household items. (And yes, I walk into the building. I'm not eked out by homeless people. I just don't want them loitering in the library all day, hogging the computers, and makIng the bathroom worse than the one in Penn Station).

[Anonymous]

Plus the bedbug issue. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus the bedbug issue. Seriously.

There's a bedbug issue at the library?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loudoun county has great libraries. I would drive a little further for a nicer experience.

I don't know why Fairfax County libraries are so crappy, but they are.

OP here. I think that's what I'll do. I always enjoy browsing through all the books - I could spend two hours there, easy - but not at the Reston Library. I'll give a Loudoun one a try. Thanks.

The Gum Spring library in South Riding is amazing.

[Anonymous]

The typical liberal tripe about defending the homeless being given priority to the library. As long as it's not THEIR library we are talking about.

Reminds me about years ago how they wanted to build a noisy skateboard park immediately behind a community of upscale townhouses. The people in the townhouses objected, but the rest of Reston (who lived away from there) argued it would create no disturbance and that neighborhood should be more community-oriented. But then, there was talk of putting a Kindercsre in another part of Reston, and the very same liberals who argued that it was fine to put the skateboard part by the other people's neighborhood argued vehemently against the Kindercare in THEIR neighborhood because it would increase traffic.

[Anonymous]

Some practical things Fairfax could do to help with this issue is (1) increase the janitorial staff and clean the bathrooms more frequently throughout the day; (2) organize the kids areas into clearly defined separate spaces that don't comingle with the adult areas--computers in those areas should only have kid stuff on them; (3) have paid security guards stationed in the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus the bedbug issue. Seriously.

There's a bedbug issue at the library?

Come back and tell me about the bedbug issue! They're not in the books themselves, are they? Are they in the chairs by the computers where the homeless sit all day?