Complaints of overcrowding in the James Branch Cabell Library triggered a change in the admittance policy, which added two requirements disqualifying many homeless people from accessing the library’s resources.
The new policy, implented July 15, states the general public can use the facility if they have a valid government-issued photo ID and are pursuing academic work.
Cabell had been open to students, faculty and the general public without much restriction but rules were implemented when the library received complaints about the crowded conditions, according to Al Hamlin, the library’s supervisor of security.
Jeanne Hammer, who works with the Administration and Policy Development unit ofVCU Libraries, said the library is an academic institution that focuses on serving the university and not the general public.
Hamlin said the library’s old policy allowed the homeless to come to the library to read, sleep, use the computers and ask for change from students but the library’s security staff had no legitimate grounds to remove members of the community who might be using the facility to rest or play.
Before the policy was changed, members of the community were taking advantage of VCU’s resources by abusing Cabell’s resources and preventing students from doing academic work, Hammer said.
“The policy was revised to reduce the ambiguity,” Hammer said. “The old policy made it difficult for the security to regulate the library’s users and resources. The revision was meant to tighten up the language as to make it clearer who it is to be available to.”
Cabell’s limited space is also a major consideration: The facility has not been expanded since 1975 but VCU’s enrollment has grown to about 33,000 students, the most of any university in Virginia.
“I don’t mind them (the homeless) being there,” said junior Wynton Roussel. “But it was frustrating to go into the library to do homework and not be able to sit at a table or computer because they were sleeping or using computers to play games.”
As the weather gets colder, more homeless people – who often gather in nearby Monroe Park – might seek shelter at Cabell Library.
Hamlin said he will not deny complete access to homeless people.
“I don’t mind if they come in and read,” he said, “as long as they are being respectful and do not bother anyone.”