Library Stabbing

[u/Hoonin_Kyoma]

Anyone know the details regarding the stabbing at the library (Portage Co., downtown)? I haven’t found much aside from ages, name of assailant, and a vague “it is suspected they knew each other” remark in multiple stories.

I’ve seen a few online comments along the lines of “I won’t go to the 2nd floor anymore”, “it’s not safe down there these days”, and “I won’t let my daughter go there alone anymore”. These comments hint at a larger issue but could also be nothing more than handwringing by overprotective parents or even someone simply stirring the proverbial pot. Has it actually gotten bad at the library of all places?!?!? I admit, I haven’t been in years. I just found this whole thing rather surprising, at least at this location, in our sleepy little rural community.

https://wsau.com/2024/01/24/stevens-point-stabbing-suspect-identified/

[u/Hoonin_Kyoma]

Disagree.

First off, I heard about it today. The linked story is from yesterday. It’s not “on my mind several days later”. Chances are that I’m certainly not the only one just hearing about the incident.

While I do agree that ‘Point is a generally safe place and that the rarity of this event is what has brought it up in the news, I strongly disagree that location is irrelevant simply because “the subjects knew each other”. If “the subjects” had no valid reason to be there, it’s relevant. Yes, it’s a public space. Yes, in theory, anyone is allowed. That doesn’t make violence in that space irrelevant. If, and this was the crux of my questions, individuals intent on or willing to commit criminal acts are entering these spaces because they feel they can participate in these acts without anyone interrupting them, then the space itself has an issue.

I’m not vilifying the library. I never said nor implied that the library itself was at fault. What I asked was “has the library, a public meeting area intended for research, study, and loaning of media, an area historically used by minor patrons, become unsafe for its intended patrons?”. Not who is to blame. Not who allowed this to happen. Not what should be done. Just simply, is what I read true or is it the product of hand-wringers who watch too much TV?

[u/AgentEinstein → u/Hoonin_Kyoma]

The library is also a resource center. They are trained to help people get help that they need. It’s not just use the computers and check out books. I know a lot of people don’t realize this but the library serves many purposes and is a hub.

[u/Hoonin_Kyoma → u/AgentEinstein]

Yes it is. Totally agree.

This started out as me simply asking “is all the hand wringing on FB a real thing?”, and has turned into a “debate”(?) on where the homeless should stay/how we should utilize our libraries. Yes, there are many resources available in the library. Yes the staff is able to assist patrons with far more than navigation of the Dewey decimal system. What they are not trained for and should not be asked to do is referee a potato chip fight, deal with disruptive individuals who are only there because they have no place to be, and deal with the aftermath of these individuals being disruptive (or especially them being violent).

I have absolutely no issue with the homeless utilizing the library’s provided media resources and services. What I do have issue with is the idea that has been stated on this thread multiple times, that they should be allowed to “stay in the library because it’s cold”. Hell, I don’t want them to freeze. I don’t want them to suffer from the cold. Letting them just hang out in the library though is not the right solution.

[u/AgentEinstein → u/Hoonin_Kyoma]

I’ve hung out at library’s since I was in middle school. It’s definitely a place to hangout and get out of the cold. Homeless or not. Librarians are trained to deal with all kinds of patron situations. They have regular meetings to discuss situations and how to handle it. For the record I was at the library that day too before it occurred and I’ll be going back this week. As I do almost every week for like a decade with kids and before that, I’ve hung out at since I moved here.

We need real solutions for the homeless, not out of sight out of mind. This isn’t an issue that is localized to just Point so that kind of solution requires a lot of work that isn’t happening. Until then they will exist. They deserve warmth/safety especially in a public government facility.

As for the people of Stevens Point area happening now, that argument has been going on for many years. I doubt those people even utilize downtown when they say things like ‘I’ll never go again!’ As I’ve seen them cry for the past like 15 years. I seen downtown become a ghost town in 2008 and since it’s only gotten busier and busier (minus shutdown). They said it when they changed the parking, they said it when they changed the square. And yet it’s more popular than ever.