The Situation: As the offerings of the public library expanded to audio-visual materials and access to computer technology, the opportunities for criminal and unethical behavior to occur in public space have increased accordingly. Public libraries across the United States are suffering from the diffusion of criminal, indecorous and senselessly unethical behavior that erodes common goals, community interest and voter support, especially in an era of limited resources and economic contraction.

Deterrence and Prevention: The need to raise Lakewood Public Library’s commitment to security and preventive measures that deter theft, criminal and unethical behavior has become increasingly clear over the course of recent years.

A growing population attracted to AV materials and public computer access abuses and disrespects not only the public library culture of open and trusting values but also the public property intended to flow ethically and responsibly to borrowers through efficient low grid access rules. The situation is no longer sustainable.

It’s never a pleasure to impose new rules but with the bad economy, the regionalization of banditry, and the rise of E-Bay sellers fencing public library property, more stringent steps need to taken to reduce the loss of AV materials.

In reviewing security strategies with several off-duty police officers that LPL employs, we hypothesized that increased customer contact and identification in combination with video surveillance and recording are likely to deter theft and aid in materials recovery efforts. After three weeks of actual practice, the hypothesis is proving true.

The card surrender and identification practice is, at the first level, a preventive measure designed though raising the bar for access to stop people who do not play by the rules, who scam, swarm, create diversions and act-out in order to abscond with AV materials from occupying the AV room and thereby boosting public property.

For certain classes of thieves and especially for criminals with outstanding warrants, the insistence on personal contact and positive identification is a game-changer. Rather than be identified in a public site where video surveillance and off-duty police officers are employed, they will leave the premises. With a simple preventive measure, the dysfunctional game of anomie, chaos, crime and disrespect in the public library is now changed considerably - much to the enjoyment and enrichment of the majority.

For anyone seven years or older, then, a library card is now required for admittance to the AV Room.

The reality, rights and responsibilities for respectful action and attention in the public library situation are useful lessons for children over seven to learn.

A Place Committed to Virtue: Aesthetics, Ethics, Community With a beautiful new building that evokes the classical tradition now open, it is a critical moment in the library’s history to recalibrate rules in a more stringent and virtuous register, one allowing the collective dedication of the population to support the role that aesthetics and ethics must play in a public space dedicated to culture, inquiry, knowledge and reading.

As easy as it might be to let things slide along the open and trusting way, the investment, the resources and the total public library situation in Lakewood must be managed better through an increased commitment to more stringent rules and an engaged and positive customer service demeanor.

LPL Staff, Customer Service and the Call to Virtue: LPL staff must organize, align with the call to virtue in the community place of the library and adapt positively to an attentive and dynamic process that educates and serves citizens, while protecting the institution and public property from criminal and unethical behavior.

LPL staff must generate from their own reservoir of virtue an enthusiastic commitment to beauty and ethics, a commitment exemplified in our new space, in order to enforce rules consistently and fairly without diminishing the courteous treatment people expect.

It’s everyone’s duty. And the challenge requires everyone’s commitment – staff and public alike.

It’s a complex challenge born from a frame bending change.

Now is the time.

Thank you for your understanding and support.