Library discriminates against homeless
The downtown branch of the Broward County Public Library is continuing its legacy of discrimination against homeless residents. A few of us longtime residents of Broward County remember the shame we felt when they built the downtown library, and officials refused to install park benches because the homeless would sit in them.
The legacy of discrimination continues today as the so-called public library isn't public. They have closed the first floor bathrooms other than when they are having a special event downstairs. If it wasn't to keep the homeless out, why open it up for special events? How much does a bathroom cost to run?
I am a longtime homeless resident, and I live at the Salvation Army shelter. During a recent trip to the library as a group, to learn more about using the Internet for job searches, one of our lovely social workers from Nova Southeastern University asked an employee of the library what the residents of the shelter needed to obtain library cards. At first the employee tried to avoid answering the question, finally saying, "We can't give them library cards. They wouldn't return the books." I was flabbergasted, to say the least.
I also have been trying for two months to obtain a SEFLIN Internet account from the library, using the Salvation Army address as my legal address. Two months and still no account. My e-mails go unanswered. No luck with phone calls.
This is a blatant case of discrimination against the homeless of Broward County. It's time the signs were changed to Broward County Private Library of Shame.
Chris Kenover
Fort Lauderdale
Public libraries aren't to be 'homeless hangouts'
In fact, it's my opinion that they let too many of them in to take advantage of the cool surroundings the library offers. More than once I have been bowled over by the stench of one of these homeless persons while I was browsing for a book.
Next time it happens, I will write a note of complaint and hand it in at the checkout desk. If others feel as I do and make a written complaint, it may be helpful in allowing the library staff to continue refusing service to those homeless persons who are offensive due to lack of personal hygiene.
Being an avid reader and frequent library visitor, I am grateful for the privilege of spending quality time at my local libraries, and thankful for the thousands of books I've been able to read due to the existence of Broward County libraries. They are there for people like me and not intended as a "homeless hangout."
Alice Terry-Tapia
Hallandale
Who's protecting us from rich beggars?
Fort Lauderdale has rushed to pass laws that stop the feeding of homeless people on public beaches. Our community, so offended by these types of beggars, demanded and quickly got laws to protect us from them. And not a moment too soon.
Why then, when confronted by Marlins owner John Henry asking for money to build a state of the art stadium playground, are we left to face this beggar without protection? Shouldn't there be a law?
Maybe we are to regard his scheme to use other people's money whenever possible as a demonstration of his innate sense of smart business strategy.
Bruce Montecalvo
Fort Lauderdale
Homeless are people with rights of others
I will,however,agree with the letter writer on one item. Libraries do permit homeless individuals to check out books. I would credit this to the visionary leadership of Samuel Morrison, who I believe, like myself, respects the fact that all people, regardless of wealth, color sexual orientation, or mental health have the right to enjoy our public libraries.
If you are interested in learning more about homeless people, please call me at 954-522-7069.
Laura Carey
Executive Director
Broward Coalition for the Homeless
Fort Lauderdale
Quiet, Please:Restore decorum to out-of-control library
This article appeared in the editorial section of the Sun-Sentinel on Wednesday October 27, 1999, but since it is related to the previous letters, it is included here. Stephen L. Goldstein is an author and lecturer, and host of the Public Television show "Business Exchange" on Channel 17, and "We the People" on Comcast.
The Broward County Main Library ain't what it used to be - or was supposed to be. Until recently, it proudly displayed a banner claiming that it was part of the No. 1 library system in the nation. Sadly, today, I think it has sunk to a minus 10.
Fifteen years after the Main Library opened its doors as a multimillion-dollar research facility, it has deteriorated into a cross between a badly run post office, a video arcade and a homeless shelter. It should hang out a sign warning the unsuspecting that "Serious researchers are no longer welcome."
Or it should get its act together and start behaving like a real library.
First of all, e-mail has destroyed the Main Library. Well, not e-mail per se, of course, but the irresponsible way it is handled there.
Some well-meaning, upwardly mobile factotum wanting to score egalitarian points with colleagues probably came up with the bright idea that everybody in the Information Age has a birthright to taxpayer-paid e-mail. So the library opened a digital Pandora's box.
Now that the library lets every Tom,Dick,and Jane tramp along the Information Superhighway, there is no longer any room for legitimate researchers. At any given time, about 80 percent of the people using expensive research terminals are writing everything from unpunctuated love letters to ungrammatical requests for rent extensions (Yes, I confess, I have peeked over people's shoulders.)
Because so many people are now using e-mail, the bureaucrats have had to find a solution for the problem they created. So, they now limit computer access to just one hour.
To use a terminal, people have to get a slip of paper that shows by its color the hour when they started and place it in a special holder on the computer. Colors are changed hourly. The library's computer police can bump anyone from a terminal after one hour if someone is waiting.
Real research cannot be regulated like a parking space. You can never know precisely how long it will take. You certainly cannot have someone breathing down your neck, threatening to displace you, nor should you be forced to abandon a legitimate project so that someone can write a "Dear John" letter.
Before e-mail, no one in his right mind would have suggested that the library provide everyone in Broward County with free stationery and postage - which is what e-mail without a digital format is, after all. Still, as a nod to the Information Age, in the future, taxpayer paid e-mail should be made available on no more than two dedicated terminals, and users should be limited to 15 minutes if someone is waiting.
Second, the Main Library has all of the decorum of a video arcade, but none of the fun. It is now considered acceptable for people to speak loudly on cellular phones, for babies to scream uncontrollably without parents or staff feeling any necessity to stop them, for library users and staff to powwow well above a whisper, and for mothers to breastfeed at will.
In short, the notion of a library as a quiet place where people respect each other's space simply does not exist. A simple but enforced code of polite conduct would go a long way to restoring a semblance of propriety. Item 1 on the list should be "No talking".
Third, the Main Library has become the county's biggest de facto homeless shelter. Elected officials have created an untenable situation by refusing to deal with the magnitude of the problem of people living on our streets and finding refuge where they can. But the library's come-one-come-all policy only makes things worse. Everyone should not have access to the library just because it is a public building. The Governmental Center screens people entering it. There are some people Z should not have to sit next to or near, especially anyone who does not know what planet he inhabits or who talks to his toes.
I love the Main Library as it was and might still be, but not as it is.
Today, it is out of control.
Businessmen say that it is unethical to bait-and-switch - to advertise one thing to customers intending to sell them something else.
I don't know what they call it in the public sector - perhaps duplicity or just bad judgement. Whatever it is, the Main Library is guilty.
It was originally presented to county taxpayers as a sophisticated facility, the flagship of the system, but here we are a few years later with an organizational Humpty Dumpty.
One lesson for the digital age is that words matter, pure and simple, whether they are in e-mail or longhand.
All the king's horses and all the king's men need to put the Main Library together again.