On the eve of the new school year, an announcement went out about temporary modified hours for the Central Library. The new temporary hours effectively closed the library around dismissal next door at the High School and Next Wave/Full Circle. The announcement cited a need to "better understand the needs of our community, and to work towards enhancing the City’s resources and programming to create spaces that provide local teens a place where they feel safe, welcome, and have the opportunity to engage in programming that feels meaningful and exciting for them."

The City Council found out about this change in Central Library hours along with the public, who quickly began emailing and expressing unhappiness with this decision. It was clear just how many people value and depend on our libraries as a third place for themselves and their children. I feel the same, as a parent of kids who frequently walk up to Central Hill to the library with friends after school -- and as someone who spent a lot of time in my local public library after school in elementary and middle school. 

I spoke with Libraries Director Cathy Piantigini this afternoon, and she mentioned how appreciated she and her staff felt by the outpouring of love for the Somerville Public Library this week. But there's no denying this is a really trying time for our libraries, here in Somerville and everywhere.

Our librarians have had a lot on their plates for years, and now find themselves dealing with chaotic scenes in front of and inside the Central Library every school day after dismissal. Our (underpaid) library staff and the library patrons have had to contend with verbal and physical altercations, harassment and intimidation, inappropriate behavior, and even fireworks set off inside the building. While these sorts of problems are hardly unique to Somerville, we do need to figure out a local solution.

So what do we do about this? 

First of all, the fact they're hanging out at the library after school demonstrates the need to places for our teens to gather. The City's Teen Center at the Edgerly School had proven popular until it was displaced because the Edgerly was needed to host the Winter Hill Community Innovation School. And now the Teen Room at the Central Library has become massively popular. Somerville needs more well-run spaces for our youth.

I've called for the high school to be opened up for community uses outside of school hours, and I'd love to see it used as a place for our youth on school day afternoons and evenings. We don't utilize this amazing space nearly enough. We need a diverse offering of afterschool clubs and activities at the high school, and the high school library should be open until at least 5 PM.

And since spending more time in a building they just spent seven hours in might not appeal to everyone, we should have other places geared toward teens elsewhere in the city. I've proposed forming a community center task force to coordinate efforts to create these community spaces throughout Somerville, and this could be a good first task for a group like this.

As for the Central Library, there absolutely need to be immediate changes to ensure it's a place that feels welcoming and safe for everyone -- teens included -- and a suitable work environment for Library staff. I would suggest a code of conduct for the library be posted prominently -- and upheld. As someone who has worked with Somerville youth for years, I know it's good for kids to have expectations placed on them.

It's clear we need people skilled at working with teenagers to do that. If there are teachers willing to work in an afterschool capacity at the library, they could be great resources due to their familiarity with students and their families. Adults who work with youth in the community at teen organizations and coaching youth sports also could be brought in to encourage good choices and act as violence interruptors. And it seems there might be a need for private security like at the high school, in the event the library rules and code of conduct need to be enforced or if someone has to be ejected.

It might also be a good idea to put on some programming out in front of the Central Library, just to bring order to chaos. Some kids may just go gather elsewhere if that space is utilized by organized activities, but if the activities are appealing enough, it might have the desired effect.

The goal here should be looking to prevent violence and anti-social behavior and minimize calls for service to law enforcement. If our police officers are having to respond to incidents involving teenagers, something has gone very wrong.

So let's insist on on some minimal behavioral expectations to restore our libraries as places where everyone feels safe and welcome. That's going to involve work and coordination on both the City and Schools sides, but I really believe this is doable.

Finally, I see comments on social media demonizing our youth, and this breaks my heart. I personally know a lot of the teenagers that I see inside and out in front of the Central Library after school dismissal. These are our community's kids; not monsters to be feared. They just need some better options for gathering places and activities, and some adults who care about them and recognize their value providing guidance and accountability when they do mess up.