By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Concerns raised about drug paraphernalia in children’s washrooms in Lethbridge’s downtown Public Library

Feb 12, 2018 | 10:44 AM

LETHBRIDGE – At first glance, the children’s area in Lethbridge’s downtown Public Library appears innocuous; parents and caregivers are reading to young children or using computers, there are activities going on, and staff are checking books in and out.

Look a little bit closer, and you see signs on the washrooms that read “everyone is welcome here, drugs are not.” They go on to state that drug dealing is prohibited, sharps containers are in all bathrooms, and anyone who sees suspicious activity going on should call staff or police immediately.

Still closer, and you will notice a number of people going in and out of the bathrooms quickly…surreptitiously. And when you look inside of those washrooms, that’s when anyone who goes in will likely notice the number of needles in the biohazard containers. Dozens and dozens of them. Sometimes those needles are just left on the floor or haphazardly dumped where children use the bathroom; where mothers change their babies’ diapers or even go to breastfeed.

It’s something that has some parents very concerned. Julia Kuntz has four children. She takes them to both the west side and the downtown libraries at least once a week. The amount of drug-related debris at the downtown location does worry her sometimes.

“I have [noticed]. I’ve not seen anyone using in the libraries, but I have seen leftover needles or other paraphernalia that you would use for drugs, but I usually go and tell the library staff right away and then they go in and manage it in minutes.

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“My oldest is 11, and she knows – not what they’re for, but not to touch the needles. I’m assuming my eight-year-old would know not to touch it, but my preschoolers know I would go to the bathroom with them.”

It’s not something she says she generally has to worry about though, at the west side location.

“On the west side, I find there is zero concern for drug use at all. But in this downtown location yeah, it is on my mind. But at the west side one no. Not at all.”

LNN reached out to the Lethbridge Public Library for either a one-on-one live interview, or a telephone interview. We were provided with a statement by Marketing and Social Media Manager Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, who wants to assure parents and anyone else using the library that it’s a safe place.

“We have taken measures to ensure the safety of everyone at the library, including the installation of sharps containers and increased onsite security that monitors for appropriate behavior, and conducts regular bathroom checks.”

The statement goes on to read, “we have renovated our upper south wing washrooms to enable barrier-free access and discourage drug use, and lighting at our outdoor entrances has been improved. We have ongoing communications with our partners, such as the Lethbridge Police Services, and the Diversion Outreach Team. We also have a partnership with Community Links that sees social workers stationed in the library to help connect people to community, health and government resources.”

Even though these measures have been taken, several people, including parents, have reached out to LNN via social media, to say they will not use the downtown location at this time.

Kuntz, for her part, says when she does come across something, or has a concern, the staff react quickly.

“The staff here is really great. They’re pro-active. I see that there are signs posted up here, too. But yeah, if I had to compare the south side with the west side one though, I have zero concern on the west side.”

And she also hopes addicts who patronize the library can get help.

“Honestly, I worry for the drug addict themselves. I feel sometimes when you’re coming here, and you see someone, you know it’s cold out, they look ill. I don’t think a lot of them really want to use.”

According to ARCHES, which distributes up to 30,000 needles a month to help prevent the spread of deadly infections and diseases, the new safe consumption site located on 1 Ave. S., will open sometime in March.

The hope, according to many agencies, is that it will help not only provide a safe place for addicts to ingest illicit drugs, but that it will cut down on the number of needles found across the city and will help put those who choose to get well in touch with resources needed to help them with their addictions.