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Librarian Fed Up With Those Darn Unruly Kids
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 24, 2011
Modified Jan 24, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 24, 2011
Modified Jan 24, 2011
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Some libraries ban balloons and some libraries ban... children? Better than banning books, we guess. Also, not entirely accurate. DNAinfo today relays the story of Bloomingdale Library manager Rebecca Donsky who is at her wits end with wild youngsters terrorizing her place of business. The problem isn't so much the kids who come to the library on West 100th Street after school to work and study but the kids who loiter and cause disruptions around the library and then threaten her and call her names when she asks them to leave.
The problem has escalated to the point where she has had to ask officers to help her keep the peace (and occasionally escort out the truly uncontrollable). And in response to her pleas the police (the 24th Precinct is across the street) have agreed to up their surveillance by, among other things, having police officers walk through on the way to their meal breaks.
Meanwhile Donsky and the library insist they just want to foster a safe environment for everyone. To that end a new space for teens is in the works to support those who are actually using the library. "I want to give them a way to channel their energy," Donsky said. "If they're angry, don't call me names, write a poem." And if that doesn't work, maybe they should get Parker Posey to yell at them about the Dewey decimal system for a bit?
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