Librarians at the Rogers (Ark.) Public Library are considering installing surveillance cameras after someone apparently used a librarian’s scissors to lop off paws, arms, and legs from puppets in the children’s room November 7.
“They slashed Humpty Dumpty’s head, cut a leg off the wolf, and whacked an arm off a bear,” Assistant Director Fran Levine said in the November 22 Northwest Arkansas Morning News. Approximately 20 small hand puppets were also missing, she noted. Although some puppets’ paws were found and stitched back on, damage to the collection was estimated at $550.
The library hopes to prevent future vandalism by installing mirrors and perhaps cameras to improve visibility. “We would rather spend the money on programs, services, and material rather than on surveillance cameras. But it’s vital to protect the public property,” said Director Judy Casey.
Police planned to increase the frequency of their library patrols, said Lt. Mike Johnson. “This incident is a malicious, intentional destruction of public property that the taxpayers pay for,” he said. “These puppets are for all the children to enjoy.”
Posted December 2, 2002.