Public access to the bathrooms at the Bob Harkins branch of Prince George Public Library has been reduced due to an ongoing drug abuse issue.
According to Amy Dhanjal, PG Public Library Spokesperson, this is primarily due to an increase in suspected drug use in the bathrooms, which has lead to a rise in substance use supplies being improperly discarded, including biohazards.
“We’re making these changes to the health and safety of our staff and patrons and not because we disapprove of substance use, however, we’re seeing frequent instances of substance use in our washroom including smoking of substances and that is really making our staff feel unsafe,” she explained.
Staff at the library have noticed an increase in discarded pipes, which is a safety concern for staff who may have been exposed to harmful inhalants or residue when checking the bathrooms.
According to Dhanjal, every time someone smokes in the bathroom it has to be closed to the public for one hour to allow for proper ventilation.
“What that does is it results in people not being able to access the bathrooms at all. So we’re trying to disrupt that pattern of behavior,” Dhanjal explained.
She added that while substance use in public bathrooms isn’t a new issue, it still is something that needs to be addressed.
With the new rule coming into effect yesterday (Tuesday), residents will only have access to washrooms by request, as they will be locked and inspected by PG Library security after each use.
Security staff who monitor the washrooms will have added layers of personal protective equipment including specialized respirator masks and protective eyewear.
The new ruling comes after consultation with the library’s Leadership Team, Security Team, Health & Safety Committee, and WorkSafe BC, it is intended to be a temporary measure and will be reviewed after three months.
According to Dhanjal, the Public Library community supports the implementation of safe consumption site efforts and the overdose prevention work done by the POUNDS project.
Several years ago, the library added sharps containers for residents to dispose of injection supplies in the bathroom and recently installed smoke detectors in washroom stalls to detect when substances are being smoked in them.