Antioch library will reopen with armed security
County will also update security cameras at north Antioch library
When the north Antioch Library reopens on Tuesday, new security measures will be in place, including an armed security guard and patrol car to monitor the parking lot.
As first reported in the East Bay Times late Saturday, the library at 501 W. 18th St. will open for regular hours on Tuesday following a one-day closure due to security concerns about crime.
After consulting with the County Administrator’s Office and County Counsel, the library negotiated an emergency contract to provide the private armed security guard, spokesperson Brooke Converse said in a press release. The library already has a private security officer inside the branch during open hours, she said.
“The library will also be working with Contra Costa Public Works to repair and reinforce the security fence and to upgrade the security camera system,” County Librarian Alison McKee said. “The library will be in close contact with the city of Antioch about how they can best support the safety of library patrons, staff and the surrounding neighborhood.”
The Contra Costa County Library first announced the temporary closure late Friday, citing concerns over “repeated incidents that have threatened the safety of patrons and staff.”
Some of the incidences included a couple having sex openly in the bathroom, a wanted criminal using a library computer who was later removed by Antioch police, a racist letter left on the service desk and intoxicated library patrons acting aggressively, according to a letter sent by County Librarian Alison McKee to elected officials and reviewed by the Bay Area News Group.
The abrupt closing, though, caught many off-guard, including the council, mayor and police who were not forewarned.
Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe wrote a letter to Contra Costa County Administrator Monica Nino on Friday, noting though the county is responsible for the security at the library, the city “would have been more than willing to work with the county regarding any safety concerns at the library.”
The safety of patrons and staff will continue to be a top priority for the library, Converse wrote in her press release.
The southeast Antioch Library at the Antioch Community Center, meanwhile, remained open during the closure in the city’s north side.
Library services at the north Antioch Library, including holds and the book drop, will be available beginning at noon on Tuesday.