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.

I don't want to push homeless people out of the library because they are "inconvenient". I want to push them out because they are dirty, smelly, crazy, and dangerous.

I have always found Reston to be WEIRD.

OP, I'm a Reston resident as well and I've learned so much from this thread. The idea of moving the shelter to Cameron Glen and expanding the library is such a logical and rational solution. I can't believe the direction plans are moving instead.

Thanks for doing the research on this issue.

OP here. I've been doing some research and dug up an analysis (and suggestions) put forward by the Reston Association. It does appear that the library is being short-changed in the new development plans, as apparently the standard recommendation is for 1 SF per resident, and Reston has 60,000 residents, thus a new library of 60,000 is suggested. In fact, RA suggested building as large as 90,000 sf to accommodate projected population increases.

But the plans call to increase the size from its current 30,000 to only 39,000 - a 30% increase. OTOH, the shelter is projected to increase from 10,000 to 21,000 - more than doubling, and I suppose doubling the number of homeless who will ruin the new, expensive library.

RA made some good suggestions, one of which was to move the shelter to the vacant Cameron Glen Facility, which was formerly a rehab/nursing center. It already has kitchen facilities, sleeping rooms, lounge rooms, etc., and would be a cost-efficient use of existing property. (Also a way to add a but more distance to the library.) Then, the library could be expanded over the land which currently houses the shelter. )I'm guessing that idea was rejected.

Just in case any of my fellow Restonians are interested, here it is. Outdated, but interesting.
https://www.scribd.com/mobile/document/280003003/Reston-Town-Center-North-Redevelopment-RCA-White-Paper-Sept-8-2015

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't the homeless shelter have more ootions for them like computers, etc?

Have you ever spent any length of time in a homeless shelter, observing?

You can't have anything like that because it will be broken, stolen or vandalized in short order. That's just the nature of the situation. This is a group of people who, by and large, are incapable of taking care of themselves, let alone community type property like you're describing.

For those of you readers not familiar with Reston the Reston District Police Station is across the street. It used to be difficult to get a parking spot at Reston Regional Library. Not anymore.

Reston Town Center is nice and real estate is not cheap to own or rent. That new shelter will have some permanent housing. And they get a new lounge with internet, books, etc.

Looks like a college campus with dorms, university center, plus free food. And all new.

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

Oh BS. I know many people who have nice homes in Reston, Herndon, etc and only people like you expect the local public library to become another wing of aa homeless shelter. That is what it has become. Many who love in Reston now go to other libraries. Humanizing the library for the homeless population? It is first and foremost a library. I'm a liberal and expect my tax dollars to fund a public library NOT a lounge for the homeless shelter. And WTF is Fairfax County doing putting homeless families in with that crew?

Reston is a large library-a regional not a local. Sounds like the friends of library organizations are fundraising for a counterproductive county facility. Many don't use it anymore. And the county wants the money. http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2017/06/library-volunteers-oppose-money-grab-by.html

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.

DP. What? Libraries are NOT meant to provide services for homeless people. And, if it's not okay to push homeless people out of the library, then why do you feel that it's okay to push kids and other patrons out of the library?

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.

Restonite NP here. Look, the homeless are not using the library to meet their library related needs. They are sleeping there, watching internet there, hanging out and smoking out front, and also sleeping rough round the sides and back. While the earlier PP is accusing everybody of special meanness in proposing to deny this one group doing what they prefer to do at the library, while this one group makes the library an unattractive destination for everybody else who is interested in using the library for its purpose.

I still use the library, but disruptions are not uncommon there and the police have been there several times when I have been there. Last month a mentally ill woman was having a series of loud outbursts and the librarians looked harassed, powerless, and discouraged. Later I read the police had been called to the library that day for a separate incident, unrelated to what was going on when I was there. It must have been a long day for the librarians. I get leered at on a regular basis going in and out, and dropping off returns when the library is closed sometimes feels rather more dangerous than a mid-day activity in RTC really ought to be.

Really, direct daily intervention on intractable social pathology - this isn't what librarians are trained to do.

I'm following the redevelopment plans and don't think there is much hope of change here. They are going to keep the library adjacent to the homeless shelter, with both being larger and more luxurious.

Great Falls library is really nice.

OP here. Yes, the redevelopment plans are even more infuriating. Fairfax County has been aware - for years! - of the problems that have resulted by having the homeless shelter next to the library, and now, with a chance to finally correct it, they are almost TRIPLING the size of the shelter and leaving it in the same place. This makes no sense, other than these social justice warriors, living far removed from the problem and not directly impacted, are giving more of a priority to the homeless than they are to taxpayers and their children.

I also no longer return books after hours. I don't like the feeling of all those eyes on me, considering that the majority of these men are mentally unstable and sometimes aggressive.

I'll check out Great Falls, thanks.

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.

Restonite NP here. Look, the homeless are not using the library to meet their library related needs. They are sleeping there, watching internet there, hanging out and smoking out front, and also sleeping rough round the sides and back. While the earlier PP is accusing everybody of special meanness in proposing to deny this one group doing what they prefer to do at the library, while this one group makes the library an unattractive destination for everybody else who is interested in using the library for its purpose.

I still use the library, but disruptions are not uncommon there and the police have been there several times when I have been there. Last month a mentally ill woman was having a series of loud outbursts and the librarians looked harassed, powerless, and discouraged. Later I read the police had been called to the library that day for a separate incident, unrelated to what was going on when I was there. It must have been a long day for the librarians. I get leered at on a regular basis going in and out, and dropping off returns when the library is closed sometimes feels rather more dangerous than a mid-day activity in RTC really ought to be.

Really, direct daily intervention on intractable social pathology - this isn't what librarians are trained to do.

I'm following the redevelopment plans and don't think there is much hope of change here. They are going to keep the library adjacent to the homeless shelter, with both being larger and more luxurious.

Great Falls library is really nice.

Anyone can bring a bedbug to the library. Often they ride in on returned books from people's bedsides, but that's not the only vehicle. Once there, they love hiding out in books! Here are a few links to consider. Personally, I think keeping shared spaced and resources as hygienic as possible is key, as well as routing inspections and bringing back stronger insecticides. I would certainly have a policy on what belongings people can bring with them into the library (bedding?). Might be something to check with Reston. Of course I am guessing they can hitch a ride on clothing. A few links.

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-shelters1.pdf
"The structures that are most at risk for developing bed bug infestations are where many people and their belongings move in and out with great frequency. Thus it is easy to see how places like hotels, motels, hostels and shelters are particularly prone to bed bug infestations. As in hotels and motels, shelters are at risk of having bed bugs arrive on every client that walks in the door. "

Heartbreaking:
http://abc7chicago.com/news/cta-rider-says-woman-carrying-bedbug-infested-bag-got-back-on-train/1764654/
"CTA rider Michael Moore couldn't believe what he was seeing, so he wanted to document it. Moore shot about 12 seconds of what he describes as hundreds and hundreds of living bugs crawling inside a black garbage bag which had holes in the bottom.
He believes the woman carrying the bag was homeless, and that the bugs were bedbugs."

Also sad:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bedbugs-found-lexington-ave-subway-line-article-1.1897493
"Days after bedbugs were discovered on the N line, a No. 5 train was taken out of service on Friday after a rider reported seeing one fall off a homeless man, said Joe Costales, chairman of the conductor/tower division of Transport Workers Union Local 100."

3 days ago:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-bedbugs-20170813-story.html
"Patrons may be checking out more than just a book the next time they visit the Buena Vista Branch Library in Burbank.
Elizabeth Goldman, the city’s library services director, told council members that bedbugs have been found in the city’s newest library on North Buena Vista Street.
There were a few sites around the library — primarily in the main reading area, known as the “Castle” in the children’s library, and in staff offices — where the little insects were found, Goldman said in a phone interview Wednesday."

Berkley
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2015/09/27/bed-bugs-shut-down-berkeley-library/
According to Bay Area news station KRON4, the parasites–often passed through bedsheets, clothing, and upholstery–were found in a men’s room; under computer desks and chairs; and in a reading area in the library.

Why don't all the computers have 30 minute daily limits?

An issue at my library is retired, older men who monopolize the internet for 5-6 hours a day. They're really grumpy and they spread out. I just don't think computer and internet should be the focus of libraries.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Loudoun county resident here- since OP is griping about her tax dollars being abused by the homeless in FFX libraries, I think I should gripe about FFX residents coming to use my LoCo libraries. After all, my county dollars paid for it. I lived in Falls Church previously and I agree that Loudoun county libraries are much better than FFX.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I don't know about this library but there have been infestations across the country, at great cost and suffering. They can come from anywhere, but do consider homeless shelters may suffer infestations.

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP here. Actually, those are all great ideas. I'll pass them on. Thank you.