The Antioch Group Library in Contra Costa, California was abruptly closed on Saturday. An announcement posted to the Contra Costa County Library web site gave the explanation as, “repeated dangerous incidents in the last few months that have threatened the safety and security of patrons and staff.” A library spokesperson added folks had been utilizing medicine and having sexual activity contained in the library and on library property “in full view of patrons and staff.” Contra Costa County is located in the East Bay region, simply east of crime-ridden Oakland and San Francisco.
The announcement for the closure efficient Saturday was posted on Friday:
Antioch Library Closed Till Additional Discover
February 16, 2024
Starting Saturday, February 17, 2024, the Antioch Library shall be closed till additional discover.The Contra Costa County Library has made this tough determination after repeated harmful incidents in the previous few months which have threatened the protection and safety of patrons and workers.
Through the closure, the Library shall be working to implement additional safety measures so we are able to reopen as quickly as potential. These will take a while to finish, and we don’t have an estimated date for reopening. We are going to proceed to maintain you up to date on our progress.
HOLDS
When you have questions on library supplies on maintain, please contact us.RETURNS
The e book drop shall be closed. Please return books to the Prewett Library, Pittsburg Library, or some other Contra Costa County Library. You may additionally maintain onto your returns till after the Antioch Library reopens. The Library will robotically lengthen the due dates in your supplies.We apologize for the quick discover and the inconvenience however the security of our patrons and workers is a prime precedence.
KTVU-TV reported a library spokesperson saying the problems on the Antioch Group Library embrace medicine and intercourse contained in the library and out of doors on the property (excerpt):
A library spokesperson instructed KTVU that crimes, theft and vandalism towards workers and patrons had been simply the tip of the iceberg.
“We’ve also had drug activity and drug use both inside the library and on library property,” mentioned Brooke Converse, a spokeswoman for the Contra Costa County Library System.
“People having sexual intercourse inside the library or on property in full view of patrons and staff. We found bullet casings on library property.”
A report by the Public Policy Institute of California on crime tendencies in California counties in 2022 confirmed Contra Costa with an increase in violent crime of shut to twenty p.c and a rise in property crime of practically 10 p.c.
Antioch had a inhabitants of about 115,000 in the 2020 census. In response to the Antioch Police Department crime statistics for 2023, there10 murders and 33 rapes. However there over 1000 every of larceny (1646), motorcar theft (1245), easy assault (1029) and vandalism (1072). There have been about 500 or fewer incidents of three crime classes: Housebreaking (559), aggravated assault (436) and theft (211).
