2024-03-25 — Fwd: Community issue affecting Library
From: "Laura Fitzgerald-Kemmett <lkemmett@HANSON-MA.gov>" <lkemmett@HANSON-MA.gov>
To: george.ferro@whrsd.org; jeffrey.szymaniak@whrsd.org; beth.stafford@whrsd.org
Bcc: jeffrey.szymaniak@whrsd.org
Date: 2024-03-25 13:03
Subject: Fwd: Community issue affecting Library
■Hi there!
Please see the email below from our Library Director Karen Stolfer. Thoughts on how best to avoid this in the future would be appreciated. Wondering if after
school programming could be made available with the YMCA.
Warmest Regards,
Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett
Hanson Select Board Chair
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Begin forwarded message:
On Mon, Mar 25, 2024, 11:14 AM Karen Stolfer <kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org> wrote:
Hi Laura,
I'm writing to you as our Select Board liaison regarding a community issue that is affecting the Library. On early release days, the Library has become a hang out location that middle school students walk
to. Unfortunately many of these students are exhibiting inappropriate behavior. We first observed this last year and it has continued this year. I have been in touch with the police department as well as the
Superintendent's office, which sent out a letter I wrote to parents asking them to speak with their children about appropriate Library behavior. I understand that several local businesses have also dealt with
similar problems. Many of these students are not "bad" kids, but they lack places in Town for them to go. The sheer number of students is overwhelming to our small staff and small space. Although we
have behavior policies in place, staff find they have to constantly monitor the students, which results in no regular work getting done. We have also observed other patrons' use of the library being
disrupted. If you're available, you're welcome to stop by at one of the upcoming half days (Fri Mar 29th & Fri Apr 5th) around 1:00 pm to observe the situation firsthand. I am hoping to set up a meeting to
discuss this issue with you and anyone else you feel it would be appropriate to include in the conversation. If you feel it would be a matter for the whole Board, I'm happy to attend a meeting to discuss.
Thanks!
Karen
--
Karen Stolfer
Library Director
Hanson Public Library
132 Maquan Street
Hanson, MA 02341
781-293-2151
kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org
When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record.
This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, re-transmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate to the sender that you
have received this email in error, and delete the copy you received.