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Homeless Patrons Win in WorcesterThe Worcester (Mass.) Public Library board of directors decided September 12 to permit homeless patrons who receive mail at a shelter or elsewhere to check out as many books as any other patrons. The decision followed a class action lawsuit filed in July by the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts (LACCM) and the American Civil Liberties Union, charging that the library’s borrowing policies were unfairly restricting access for residents who live in homeless shelters.The Worcester Telegram and Gazette reported September 14 that board President Jay Scully said in a prepared statement, “We reviewed our borrowing policy and made several refinements to ensure fairness while maintaining our fiduciary responsibilities to the taxpayers of Worcester.” The library’s policy had been based on the determination that patrons without addresses or with addresses at shelters accounted for a substantial percentage of books never returned. LACCM Executive Director Jonathan Mannina told the newspaper that “the library has taken a positive step in response to the lawsuit, but we’re still in ongoing negotiations.” Earlier in the week, both sides in the suit asked the U.S. District Court to postpone a scheduling conference from September to October in order to continue discussions that could resolve the suit. Worcester Head Librarian Penelope Johnson said in the Telegram and Gazette that everyone who has a library card will be treated equally; they can take out two items during their first visit and up to 50 thereafter. Homeless patrons or patrons living in shelters will be mailed a postcard, which they can bring back with them to the library as proof that they can receive mail. Posted September 15, 2006. |
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