Gilroy – Every spectrum of humanity walks through the doors of the Gilroy Public Library each day. It is the one place where you can get something for nothing and social status disappears inside the walls of the building. The problem is, seemingly all of humanity is walking through the doors at the same time in a library that outgrew its capacity 26 years ago.
“The fact is, this is like a public park. The whole spectrum of humanity comes to the library,” said community librarian Lani Yoshimura. “And sometimes they stay five minutes or all day, and usually in the winter it’s all day.”
Fifteen minutes after opening Tuesday afternoon not one computer is available and hardly a chair unoccupied.
“Usually it’s twice as busy,” Yoshimura said, explaining how spring break has kept some away.
Overcrowding is a problem since about 40 percent of the original space has been eliminated to make room for computers, DVDs and CDs.
But that could change.
Stacks of floor plans and architectural diagrams rest in a corner in Yoshimura’s office – the designs for the new library staff members hope to build if Proposition 81 passes in June.
The building would offer four times the space, a soundproof teen room, a quiet study area and a community section that would be open for Gilroy residents even when the library isn’t. Supporters of the new library are hoping the proposition passes, which could bring much needed funding to the table.
“Generally in the past libraries and literacy have always done well,” Yoshimura said. “We’re hoping that people can see the benefit in this.”
The new library is estimated to cost $20 million – $14 million will be funded by the state if the proposition passes, she said. The statewide bond measure would raise up to $600 million, costing taxpayers about $2 per resident.
“The problems is there is just not enough space, not enough seating,” she said.
Sitting in the “Silent Study” section adults read in an area that is hardly quiet. Some are seemingly oblivious to the loud giggling and typing of young teens. Others notice the noise, staring at the offenders, while some and try to ignore the distractions.
“Sometimes it’s really loud,” said James Blanco, a Gilroy High School sophomore found rifling through the bookstacks Tuesday.
But a cramped library is just one of the many problems librarians face each day. Individuals with degrees in Information Science are part psychologist, part teacher and often times part baby-sitter and security guard.
“It’s a constant, constant juggling act,” Yoshimura said. “It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it and we love it. We feel that we have been able to help people.”
Library staff are familiar with a common scenario: Parents dumping their children at the library for most of the day, often leaving them without snacks until closing.
“Large groups of children are left here sometimes. It’s a little daunting to us,” Yoshimura said. “If we see it, we wait until the parents come – or until the police do.”
The library staff learn the children who come there. Sometimes they meet to discuss what to do about certain children who are misbehaving. Does anyone know the parents? How will they react if they are notified? Will it be worse for the child at home afterwards?
Yoshimura once banned a young girl from the library who was acting out and would not listen to staff members. But when she learned the girl was hanging out at Christmas Hill Park after school because her family was homeless, Yoshimura worked it out so that she could come back under strict rules.
“These people may be up against the walls themselves,” she said. “Sometimes this is the only game left in town for some of these kids. The kids will come and ask the same questions over and over again because they want more human interface.”
Another youth Yoshimura would ban for weeks or months at time would always come back to the library to talk to her. He was a gang member and would cause trouble at the library. But Yoshimura would stand up to him and set limits.
“I was one of the few people who said no to him. I guess that kind of meant something to him,” she said. Years later he would come and tell her about when he got his first job and show her his first baby.
“There were many things they did not teach us at library school,” she said. “We never know who’s going to walk through the door, and sometimes very unusual behavior walking through the doors. But just because behavior is unusual doesn’t mean its dangerous.”
The library becomes a haven for transients during the winter months. Most of the time there are not problems. However, Yoshimura has had to ban some people from the library for behavioral reasons.
“We may have disruptive behavior occasionally, but it’s usually medicative problems,” she said.
And Yoshimura is quick to point out that the problems at Gilroy’s library are not isolated to the city.
“Gilroy is not unusual. Even in the most affluent communities this happens,” she said.
Library staff try to resolve issues with troubled patrons instead of kicking people out. Staff members have been trained on gang issues – though most of the time, rivalries are checked at the door.
“Everybody is an information equal in the library. People truly are equal here,” Yoshimura said. “What we’re working with is not just collections, it’s communities. The books are secondary.”
