WHAT: No Loitering policy goes into effect
WHO: Wicomico Public Library customers
WHEN: Beginning December 1st
WHERE: Main Library
SALISBURY, MD – November 29, 2010 – Effective December 1, 2010 a “No Loitering” policy will be in effect outside the Main Library in Downtown Salisbury. The amendment to the Library’s “Customer Rules of Conduct” was approved by the Library Board of Trustees at its October 12 meeting and specifically prohibits “Smoking, blocking the entrance, including the sidewalk, solicitation and loitering.”
“The increasing number of people who ‘hang out’ near the Library entrance at all hours has led to increased complaints of smoking, profanity, solicitation and congestion,” said Library Director Tom Hehman. “A number of people have even said they no longer come to the library for that reason. The new policy is designed to keep the Main Library free and open to all who would use it, and everyone is welcome inside.”
Wicomico Public Library has its main facility in downtown Salisbury and two small branches in the Centre at Salisbury and Pittsville, a computer access station in Bivalve, and a bookmobile. The library offers free Internet access, a variety of classes and events, as well as materials for loan including popular music CDs and DVD titles. Computer use, classes and events are free and open to the public.
23 comments:
LOL The reasons they enacted the ban are the same reasons we avoid downtown Salisbury at all cost.
I am glad that they are a least trying to address this problem. My son does not even want to go to the library because of the vagrants.
The amendment to the Library’s “Customer Rules of Conduct” was approved...
Are the people Smoking, blocking the entrance, including the sidewalk, solicitating and loitering library customers?
Wanna bet they just move across the street to that old fire house?
The vagrants are Salisbury residents. They are people just like the rest of us.
12:10 Yes, they too are Salisbury residents, however, when they intimidate other Salisbury residents from entering a PUBLIC place, then something must be done.
Thank you to the Wicomico Library!
I heard the homeless hang out there.
This should have been enacted YEARS ago.
12:10
Citizens yes, but I doubt they pay any taxes to use the library... did you notice they stand out there all day and never go to work.
11:53
Yes, and it resulted in people using the library less. We started avoiding the library for same reason you avoid Smith Street.
i was afraid to go to the library because it looked like a drug dealer hangout or "corner" boys in baltimore.
I drive the extra 20 minutes and take the kids to the ocean pines library every week. Great facility and no riff-raff to deal with on the way in and way out.
Anon 1210 - Who cares if they are Salisbury residents. If they are residents they should go hang out at their own residence! My son loves to go to the library, and we try to go once a week. But with all the people hanging out outside, many of which are unkept and dirty, I have been leary about taking him. Everytime we go, I am skeptical about walking up to and leaving the library. I find myself clutching my bag and keys, and walking as fast as I can to my car. I am always worried somebody is going to mug us or follow me to my car. Its a very unsafe feeling going to our library, which is a shame.
It's not just the library , the whole city sucks!!
Thank God, or at least Thank the Library. I'm tired of hearing rap music and seeing the waste of human skin hanging out while I'm walking into and out of the library.
Oh, for my old Salisbury back!!!! Remember when you could walk out the back of the Fashion Shop, buy a milkshake from Shoremaid Ice Cream in that same area and not be fearful that something bad would happen????
C'mon city fathers, court system, police officers, etc let's take it back jackkcharl@aol.com
I am glad this has been enacted. I hope it is enforced. I always walk a little faster and clutch my belongings a little tighter when walking to or from the building to the parking lot. Maybe I'd feel differently if those that were lingering were reading a book!
I'm glad they have made this new policy. I'm afraid to visit that branch due to the homeless, rude people hanging around, and low lifes mooching their computers. I have all my books sent from the main branch to a safer branch for pick-up.
Thank you so much, Library trustees, for enacting this policy. It is long overdue. Yes, 12;10, they may (or may not be) residents of Salisbury, but that does not give them the right to loiter and intimidate patrons from entering the library. The crowds of loiterers in front of the library are truly an eyesore and an affront to those who wish to use the library's resources.
I guess now the issue will be who will "shoosh" them away and if it is even legal to do so.
what about the people loitering inside, loafing around and using the free internet?
I went to the main branch for the first time in years...what a scary place. I was quite disturbed to see that the homeless have found it to be their "community center" for sleeping and warmth while pretending to read a book as they snored. I must say, I won't be back for all the reasons listed in all of the other entries! However, I am thankful I have a job, a home and a warm place to sleep other than the library...What has happened to Salisbury???
I drove by the library the other day and couldn't believe the number of people just hanging around outside the doors. And my first thought was I highly doubt they are library customers. Way to go Salisbury Library!!!!!!!!!
I'm so happy to hear this. I didn't feel safe walking up w/my daughter either or returning books at the drop box. We need to start enforcing this in other areas as well. I'm sick of being approached at night by the vagrants for money every time we go to the Walgreen's store on Rt. 13, the Chinese buffet across from it, and the WaWas gas station. They give you the evil eye if you say no. We need some foot patrols to control the loitering up and down Rt. 13 too. Prostitutes will also solicit you while pumping gas at WaWa. Nothing but trash all up and down the strip nowadays all hours of the day and night.
This should be another wake-up call for the new police chief.
Get out there and get the job done that has been neglected for way too long. It is scary to ride by and see all these non taxpaying people hanging out at our Library, while most of us pay taxes to support the Library.
It's about time.
Now, clean up the loiterers inside the main library. Call the cops.
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