Pittsburgh 24/7 District (Penn Hills, Washington, Progress: violent crime, bus, moving)

[mangmang]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I use the library on a regular basis and I have never seen anyone looking at porn. Not once in twelve years.

Seconded. Look, I understand being reluctant to be around someone who smells funny because they have a tough time finding a place to do laundry or shower. Maybe we should just harden up and deal with it. Exercising tolerance is fairly painless.

[BrianTH]

The libraries we go to are, based on casual observation, particularly popular with older folks and families with young kids. Not necessarily a 24/7 crowd, but not a bunch of porn-watchers either.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by mangmang

I absolutely support 'internet cafe for non-computer owners' as a core function of libraries. You're right to put "luxury" in quotes; internet access is such an essential service for anyone who wants to engage in society. Really have to disagree with screening homeless people out of this service.

The idea of barring the homeless from libraries that someone seems to be putting forth is passing ridiculous. Sorry you feel nervous around people without cars - I think you're missing the point of what libraries are for.

Totally agree. How is a homeless person to find resources if they don't have access to library computers?

There are lower income people at our libraries using the computer all day but they aren't homeless. They walk to the library, cruise the web, read books, and talk to each other. It's like there's a little group of regulars. They're probably on disability. I'm glad they are getting out the house and meeting each other.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by mangmang

I absolutely support 'internet cafe for non-computer owners' as a core function of libraries. You're right to put "luxury" in quotes; internet access is such an essential service for anyone who wants to engage in society. Really have to disagree with screening homeless people out of this service.

The idea of barring the homeless from libraries that someone seems to be putting forth is passing ridiculous. Sorry you feel nervous around people without cars - I think you're missing the point of what libraries are for.

Originally Posted by mangmang

Seconded. Look, I understand being reluctant to be around someone who smells funny because they have a tough time finding a place to do laundry or shower. Maybe we should just harden up and deal with it. Exercising tolerance is fairly painless.

Kippy's lived on Douchstrasse for awhile now.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by mangmang

Seconded. Look, I understand being reluctant to be around someone who smells funny because they have a tough time finding a place to do laundry or shower. Maybe we should just harden up and deal with it. Exercising tolerance is fairly painless.

Unfortunately, people can also exercise choice, namely not to go to libraries populated with people who smell bad, sleep, and ask for money. In Atlanta, the homeless have turned libraries they frequent into dumps. The main library in downtown Atlanta is an embarrassment. The public simply won't tolerate it and shows it by not coming to that and other library branches. The problem truly threatens the libraries affected.

Atlanta's parks have the same problem but not Centennial Park which is run by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. I don't know how they managed it legally but that park functions as intended as it is not a camp for the homeless.

[mangmang]

That's a shame about the Atlanta system. I hope they can find a way to serve their homeless and home'd patrons equally and concurrently. I've spent some time in Bay Area libraries, and although there's a huge homeless population, they're still well-utilized by all. I'm interested to learn the differences.

Much more to the point: Pittsburgh libraries don't have Atlanta's problem at all. Honestly, do you observe the homeless driving other people out of library branches? I've never caught that vibe at Main, Downtown or any other branch I've seen.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Totally agree. How is a homeless person to find resources if they don't have access to library computers?

I guess the problem is that the library is sort of converted into an extension of homeless services. That then discourages other users from coming in. It would also be nice to have "free" public transportation but I bet the system quality would degrade significantly to an even lower level as purposeless riders would burden operations.

There are lower income people at our libraries using the computer all day but they aren't homeless. They walk to the library, cruise the web, read books, and talk to each other. It's like there's a little group of regulars. They're probably on disability. I'm glad they are getting out the house and meeting each other.

True. It's one of those cases where you can likely tell the difference but can't codify it into an ordinance that'll hold up in court.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by mangmang

Much more to the point: Pittsburgh libraries don't have Atlanta's problem at all. Honestly, do you observe the homeless driving other people out of library branches? I've never caught that vibe at Main, Downtown or any other branch I've seen.

Yes, people will go to library branches that the homeless don't frequent. Naturally those branches are either difficult or inconvenient for the homeless to reach.

[mangmang]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Yes, people will go to library branches that the homeless don't frequent. Naturally those branches are either difficult or inconvenient for the homeless to reach.

I guess our experiences and observations in the Pittsburgh library system differ fundamentally. I am honestly not aware of this being an issue, completely aside from who I think a library should serve (everybody).

[mangmang]

Is anybody a CLP (or other) librarian? Feel free to check me if I'm talking silly here.