Editorial: Library turns predator into police

The library seems like a safe place for youth – and it is. The local library staff is keeping watch on its young patrons.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Belleville Area District Library Board, Library Director Mary Jo Suchy reported on a recent incident.
She said earlier this month a 57-year-old male in the library was staring at a 13-year-old girl and trying to engage her in conversation. He gave her his name and phone number. The girl told the library staff and they called Belleville police.
It turns out the man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was taken in custody.
Director Suchy said she has banned the man from the library for one year for violating the library’s code of conduct. When he wants to return, he will have to meet with Suchy first.
Board member Joy Cichewicz, who is a librarian in Ypsilanti, said she tried to ban a person from her library forever for an infraction and the library attorney said she couldn’t do that. A year is the max.
Suchy said the library has a security guard on hand Monday through Friday after school and he took the initial report from the girl.
Suchy said she and other staff members recently attended a “Real World Library Security” workshop in Dearborn. The author of “Black Belt Librarian” gave them tips on library safety. Just in time.
Actually, they’ve been watching out for kids for a very long time. But, it helps when victims tell them what’s happening.