Billie Jean King library in Long Beach reopens after security concerns
Long Beach's main library is back open after it closed last month because of security concerns surrounding the homeless around the area.
An increase in incidents at the Billie Jean King Main Library involving homeless people with mental health issues inside the library forced city officials to make changes.
There were several incidents on the second floor of the library, including books being thrown and commotion on the floor the day before it was forced to close.
"Sometimes folks come in and they have unresolved trauma and unresolved mental health issues. And so we have unfortunately seen an uptick in those kinds of incidences," Long Beach director of Library Services Cathy DeLeon said.
As a result, there are now at least two officers patrolling both floors of the library during operation hours.
In the last two years, the city of Long Beach has seen a 62% increase in the number of homeless people and a 143% increase in the number of people suffering a severe mental illness.
On Monday, just blocks from the library, a homeless man went on a stabbing spree. He killed a woman in her 60s and injured at least two others. That suspect is also responsible for two separate stabbing attacks/incidents that occurred on Saturday Oct. 15.
In an effort to help people find housing, the library hired a health education outreach worker, who said she speaks with about 15 people per day on average.
The library is set to operate on a limited schedule in coming weeks, but hope to return to full operation by the beginning on November.
