Libraries as homeless centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

Meaning what? They could be sued if they don’t let homeless hang out there? Well that sucks for everyone else, doesn’t it?

Meaning that their mission is to serve the public, and the public includes people who are homeless.

They mission is not to serve people who are homeless. You made that up.

That public libraries are public or that homeless people are part of the public?

[Anonymous]

Since when have the homeless saints been revered on a par with religious hermits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when have the homeless saints been revered on a par with religious hermits?

They're people who need somewhere safe and warm to be during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

Right but the purpose is for borrowing books, doing research, etc. not for housing people 12 hours a day who don’t have a home. I don’t know a good solution but I agree, the library often feels like a homeless shelter and despite it being public, that is not the purpose it is meant to serve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when have the homeless saints been revered on a par with religious hermits?

Thank you! Wtf! I’ve noticed this trend too. Why the heck are we putting their rights above children, seniors, etc. They make libraries stinky and unsafe ruining it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

" People without computers at home need the library computers. "

How is the satisfaction of that need reported to the IRS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

Meaning what? They could be sued if they don’t let homeless hang out there? Well that sucks for everyone else, doesn’t it?

Meaning that their mission is to serve the public, and the public includes people who are homeless.

But the public doesn’t include ONLY people who are homeless. It also includes the non homeless who would like to use the library for research or to borrow books for their children but often can’t, at least not safely, because of a mentally ill homeless man sleeping in the stacks which is not the intended purpose of a library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since when have the homeless saints been revered on a par with religious hermits?

They're people who need somewhere safe and warm to be during the day.

Not disagreeing. But that place shouldn’t be the library. It makes no sense and makes the library difficult to use for people who actually want/ need library services

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

Right but the purpose is for borrowing books, doing research, etc. not for housing people 12 hours a day who don’t have a home. I don’t know a good solution but I agree, the library often feels like a homeless shelter and despite it being public, that is not the purpose it is meant to serve

+1

And what about when the homeless are a *public* nuisance, as so many PPs have said?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't many homeless shelters close during the day? That's never made sense to me, but libraries seem to be a temperature-controlled, fairly safe fallback for those on the streets. I agree that there should be other welcoming public facilities open to them during the day, but often there are not.

When homeless get to be "fairly safe" in the library, they make it less safe for everyone else, especially women and children. Great solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

They should be viewed as serving the "taxpayer", rather than the "public". Because the public doesn't fund libraries - taxpayers do. Without taxpayers you can still have a "public", but you won't have any libraries. Or any other community services, for that matter.

While the homeless are certainly members of the public, let's not delude ourselves that they are contributing to funding the library.

There should be a hierarchy of users of public services like libraries, with the needs of those who's taxes sustain libraries placed above the needs of those who contribute nothing and only consume services.

Wow. Ok.

I agree with it. Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since when have the homeless saints been revered on a par with religious hermits?

They're people who need somewhere safe and warm to be during the day.

Fellow liberal here. yes, they are people, but libraries also have a distinct purpose for the public (including the homeless/poor public) to be a place to read and study. So no, libraries should not be de facto homeless day shelters. Homeless people should be welcome as long as they are using the facilities appropriately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:" People without computers at home need the library computers. "

How is the satisfaction of that need reported to the IRS?

homeless people pay sales taxes dummy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't many homeless shelters close during the day? That's never made sense to me, but libraries seem to be a temperature-controlled, fairly safe fallback for those on the streets. I agree that there should be other welcoming public facilities open to them during the day, but often there are not.

When homeless get to be "fairly safe" in the library, they make it less safe for everyone else, especially women and children. Great solution.

So your assumption is based in ignorance that all homeless people are dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're *public* libraries. They serve *the public*.

Right but the purpose is for borrowing books, doing research, etc. not for housing people 12 hours a day who don’t have a home. I don’t know a good solution but I agree, the library often feels like a homeless shelter and despite it being public, that is not the purpose it is meant to serve

+1

And what about when the homeless are a *public* nuisance, as so many PPs have said?

Any INDIVIDUAL who is a nuisance or breaks rules should not be permitted in the library, homeless or otherwise.