WESTLAND, Mich. – It's been an interesting couple of weeks for employees of Westland's William P. Faust Public Library.
First, a person overdosed on drugs in the bathroom. Second, a man was caught two weeks ago watching pornography on the public computers. Then, a woman exposed herself this past Thursday at an open mic night with children in the audience.
There have been other issues, but that was the last straw.
"We have a great staff here at the library, but with everything that's been going on, maybe we are not equipped to handle these situations internally," said Westland Mayor William Wild. "I think the timing is right to add a security guard here."
Staff members voiced their concern to their director. The mayor was included in those discussions.
"We have a private security guard at City Hall," Wild said. "We're looking to add a guard here at the library as well."
The director said there haven't been many complaints from the public; it's mostly an internal issue.
Nikkia Matthews was at the library with her son Wednesday. She was shocked to hear these stories.
"It's got me feeling odd, since my son is in the children's section alone," Matthews said.
Now that she knows what's been going on, Matthews feels adding security is the right move.
"I think it will make people feel safer in the library," she said.
The idea of adding a security guard is still in its infancy stages. The director is taking phone calls from private security firms. The Library Board has to vote on this at their next meeting March 4. If approved, they will have to bring this to the City Council for a budget amendment.