Sudbury library closes book on teens

Sudbury library closes book on teens.
by: Ed Veilleux for Sun Media

SUDBURY — Reading might be one of the three Rs taught in schools, but a new public library policy will make it harder for students to read outside of school.

As of this week, teens are no longer allowed in the Greater Sudbury Public Library on MacKenzie Street during school hours.

The new policy came about in an attempt to deal with problems the library has recently encountered, according to a library manager.

"It's something we're doing right now to kind of take back our library," Claire Zuliani, manager of libraries and heritage resources, said.

"We've had a number of teens come in here during the day who are quite disruptive. They have little respect for our property and our staff. To the point where some of our staff are afraid to come to work."

Sudbury Secondary student Kyle Chapados says although he can see why the policy is in place, there has to be a better way to deal with it.

"I can see where they're coming from, they're just trying to nip it in the bud," he said.

"But it's not fair to the rest. How many were really causing these problems? There seems like there could be a better way of dealing with it than just banning all students."

Zuliani said the problems had gone far enough, and that crime was a factor in setting the new policy.

"We've had kids break into cars. One of our staff members had her car broken into. They're very belligerent with us."

Staff aren't the only ones complaining about the "disruptive" troublemakers, she said.

"We've had a number of complaints from patrons, who come in here to mind their own business and do their own thing, because the teens are just disruptive."

Zuliani admits that some students are in the library for positive reasons, such as doing their homework or to read, but there are a "number of groups" that use the library as a "hangout."

"They're not going to class for whatever reason," she said. "We just feel that they should be in school. Most of the kids who are here right now, the bulk of them, they're not here to use the library. It's just a hangout for them."

Zuliani hopes this policy will show the disruptive teens the importance of respect.

"My goal is that hopefully the kids that are being disruptive will learn what is and what isn't appropriate behaviour. And at that point, when they conduct themselves in an appropriate way, they will be welcomed back here, as well."

Those using the library in a respectful manner will be allowed back in, Zuliani said.

"Those kids who are coming here to do their work, if they have a spare, they'll be allowed back in."

Zuliani insists that the exclusion of troublemaking students will help create a welcoming atmosphere for the public.

"We just want the public library to be a welcoming place," she said.

Chapados says students who use the library on a regular basis, for school work, are the ones who will suffer from the new policy.

"This will take away a lot of resources that they could be using and it will probably affect them a lot," he said. "I'm pretty sure they're not happy about it."

Marymount Academy principal Karl Dreger couldn't be reached for comment.

Sudbury Secondary School principal Paul Camillo didn't wish to comment on the policy until he met with library officials.

Camillo and Zuliani have a meeting planned for today to discuss the library policy.

"Not all the students are from Sudbury Secondary, we acknowledge that," Zuliani said. "But, we are going to be working together to solve the problem."

Chapados said the current policy is unacceptable for students.

"You're pretty much discriminating against students," he said.

From: North Bay Nugget