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By KATIE LAWLER
SOUTH KINGSTOWN – When Peace Dale Library Director Shirley Long heard about an incident in Massachusetts, in which a child was molested at the public library, she was shocked but not surprised, since libraries attract many different people.
Long was relieved, however, that the incident was not in Rhode Island. In order to keep the library safe, the Peace Dale Library has a TV monitor at the reference desk, connected to two cameras, one of which is in the children’s room. In addition to that, the children’s room has a rounded mirror so that the Children’s Librarian, can view all people entering the room. Library officials are also looking into the cost of a closed circuit camera system for security purposes; something that the library in New Bedford, where the attack occurred, also has. While the Peace Dale Library doesn’t have the personnel to keep an eye on the potential camera system for every second, the benefits of having one were demonstrated in the New Bedford case. While the attack was not prevented by the presence of the cameras, the assailant was able to be identified shortly thereafter. The cameras may also act as a deterrent in other situations. For the protection of children in the library, Peace Dale and the branch libraries, Kingston Free Library and Robert Beverly Hale Library, have implemented a Youth Supervision Policy. Part of this policy requires that “children should not be left unattended anywhere in the library, especially children age six and younger,” and that, “Library staff cannot take over parental responsibilities for children who come into the library.” While the staff will not be babysitting the children, Long assures that in order for an adult to even enter the children’s room at the library, they must be with a child, or have proper identification and proof that they are there for a legitimate purpose. In addition, South Kingstown’s experienced library staff keeps an eye out for suspicious characters. “We’re always alert to what is happening. When we see people aimlessly wandering we ask if we can help them,” said Lynda Gamble, the children’s librarian. In addition, the restroom is always kept locked, so that if a person wishes to enter it, they must ask for a key from an employee. The Peace Dale Library has had only one incident in the past, when a child was followed into the library by a stranger. When the child’s father saw, he went in and checked up on his son. The man who followed the boy into the library was sitting at the same table as the boy, seemingly reading a newspaper. When the boy’s father approached him, the man fled and a police report was filed. “Anything can happen in a public building,” said Long, due to this, both Long and Gamble highly recommend that parents be with their children at all times. At Kingston Free Library, staff has not seen any changes in the protectiveness of parents who attend the library with their children, nor had Peace Dale Library.
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