BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library is requesting more help in dealing with persistent drug use and inappropriate behavior that some patrons find intimidating.
“It’s a little overwhelming. There’s no rules or regulations of people doing drugs outside,” said Naomi Little of Burlington.
People visiting Fletcher Free Library often have to run a gauntlet of homeless people congregating outside the library’s College Street entrance.
“There’s a lot of illegal activity that goes on out here, unfortunately,” said Ryan Leid, who says he is homeless and a recovering drug user who comes to the library to connect with services, charge his phone, and get out of the weather. However, he says others use it inappropriately. “I’ve seen a field trip with like 30 to 40 kids the other day trying to get on the bus when I was getting on the bus, and they couldn’t even stand in under the bus stop because people are sleeping there and using right there and It just blew my mind,” Leid says if there was another place with services like Wi-Fi and bathrooms away from community spaces, it would alleviate the issues at the library.
Inside the library, director Mary Danko says they are working to manage the need. “We’re noticing is — especially with folks that are experiencing being unhoused — is they really need access to technology,” she said.
Danko says it is important that the library be a haven, whether it’s to charge their phones or get access to job applications on a computer. They also provide harm reduction kits for those struggling with substance use. But they also use private security to help balance the needs of the entire community. “We’ve always had the value that everybody is welcome here. And that includes being a space that is comfortable for everyone. So we work really hard to monitor behaviors here at the library,” she said.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has added money to next year’s budget to help. “We just need to show up and respond to those needs — that is increasing their private security they are using as well as getting some social work resources to engage folks in a compassionate way in a way there’s accountability,” she said.
The mayor also says that there will be enhanced coordination between the police and library officials to address problems.