Oregon: “Multnomah County Library to Hire Security Manager in Response to Rising Rate of Incidents”

From The Oregonian:

The Multnomah County Library, with its mission to be a haven for everyone, for years has resisted following other urban libraries in ramping up security. But when windows at downtown Portland’s Central Library are broken twice in a single week, something has to change.
That’s the story Central Library director Dave Ratliff told this week , when he asked the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners for permission to hire a safety and security manager for the library system.
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The library system’s current security protocols rely on a set of behavior rules in place for all patrons. Staff have the authority to ban people from using the library if they break the rules. A violation can constitute anything from being disruptive, to engaging in illegal behavior or being violent. Ratliff said violations are becoming more frequent, and more severe.

Read the Complete Article

Additional Links

Video: View Portion of  County Board of Commissioners Meeting Where the Position is Discussed
Primary Docs: Budget Modification Document For Position (PDF)

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