TCSO officers stationed at Central Library

To alleviate pressure on library staff to respond to incidents at the Central Library, 10 officers from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office have been onboarded and cleared for stationing at the West César Chávez Street branch downtown. Officers serve in four-hour shifts throughout library operating hours.

The Library Commission heard an update from Austin Public Library’s security team members at its special called meeting on Sept. 23.

Austin Public Library’s 2023 incident report recorded 4,261 total incidents among the 21 branch locations. As of August 2024, there were 2,971 reported incidents. Incidents are categorized into the following violations: harassment or abuse, vandalize or damage to property, profane or vulgar language, sleeping or violating internet policy. Of the 4,261 total incidents reported in 2023, approximately 1,200 of them were categorized by either profane or vulgar language or violating the internet policy.

“APL is welcoming to all walks of life. Sometimes we run into issues where we have behavioral problems. So we use our three-step process to address those issues,” Austin Public Library facilities service manager St. John Requejo said.

That three-step process is to “inform, warn, ask,” said branch security supervisor Lloyd Black. First, a person is informed of the Austin Public Library policy they are violating. Step two is to explain that if the behavior continues, they will be asked to leave for the day. Then, they are asked to leave for the day if the behavior has continued. “But we also want to welcome them back the next day if they correct their behavior,” Black said.

Library staff members are limited as to steps they can take to de-escalate incidents and have a hands-off security policy. “We try to reduce tension, but we can’t,” Requejo said.

Ida Garza, the Central Library security supervisor, said that on-site officers “provide us increased response time when they do escalate, instead of having to wait for APD, [making] it a safer environment all around.”

A type A criminal trespass notice is issued for less serious offenses such as violating internet policy, sleeping, bringing nonservice animals on premises and blocking entrances or passageways. This notice can be appealed within five business days after receipt, and the customer may continue using the library during the appeals process. Depending on the outcome of the appeal, library staff may disable the customer’s account.

A type B criminal trespass notice is issued for serious criminal offenses such as personal threats, sexual harassment, vandalism, theft, unlawful carry of a weapon and disorderly conduct and fighting. This issuance results in an immediate criminal trespass notice, and the customer must leave the premises. The customer may still access programs or services online but cannot enter the library’s property. Officers are legally required to be present when issuing a criminal trespass notice type B.

Austin Public Library plans to expand additional security support by stationing officers at five other high-incident neighborhood branches.

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