[Prodev] Disruptive SRLs- security issues- metal detectors

[Prindiville, Kerry]

We are located in a courthouse, so patrons have to pass through security to
enter the building and I like that idea for my own safely and I think it
keeps a lot of disruptive people out. Plus, the Sheriff's Deputies watch out
for us if anyone is particulary bothersome. We have a "panic button" at the
front desk if needed. I have never had the opportunity to use it, so I don't
know what the response time would be, but I would love to find out!

The down side to the security in the building is that it intimidates some
people who need help and who would otherwise enter if we were in a stand
alone building. I did have one situation where I had a patron that was a
regular and very nice and respectful to those of us in the library. He was
researching criminal appeals. One day, a big, angry deputy followed him into
the library and got on his case about being disrespectful to the security
personnel at the entrance to the building. I felt a little protective of the
patron as he had always been very nice to me. And, I felt that the deputy
was a bit harassing in an environment that should be free from harassment if
one is minding their P's & Q's. I have another patron who is afraid of the
deputies and the judges, for that matter, because he thinks they are out to
get him. He is always looking at federal procedure because he thinks all the
state judges are biased against him. He has called recently but has not
graced our doorstep yet. 

We do not have anything like tattletape for our books or security cameras.
We need something like that as we are always missing material, mostly from
looseleaf books, where they take pages or entire chapters. We found one
looseleaf volume completely empty! 

Kerry Prindiville
Fresno County Public Law Library
1100 Van Ness Ave., Rm. 600
Fresno, California 93721
559-237-2227
559-442-4960 fax
kprindiville@fresno.ca.gov