Homelessness and the Ethics of Information Access By Corina Bardoff

Analysis of:

Homelessness and the Ethics of Information Access By Corina Bardoff

Is it legal or ethical to expel someone from a public library because of their smell? Can the library block access because someone makes other patrons uncomfortable due to appearance or behavior? What are appropriate uses of library facilities? Should there be limits to the amount of baggage that a patron may bring into the library building? The author of this article attempted to address these questions by reviewing literature discussing access, and restriction of access, of the homeless population to the public library. Ms. Bardoff examined books, articles in various publications, behavior policies of several urban libraries, and case law including LIS interpretations to discuss whether blocking access to homeless patrons even passively violates the mission of all public libraries.

The author begins by discussing what is and is not appropriate patron behavior and using existing library behavioral policies to define “problem patrons.” She reviewed appropriate and inappropriate uses of the library and ultimately defined a “problem patron” as someone who disrupted those around them and interfered with their ability to use library services. While some policies listed specific criminal behaviors such as assault, pedophilia, and violating another person’s privacy in the toilets most were “nuisance” type behaviors. She found many similarities. Most libraries prohibit offensive odors, begging, sleeping, bathing, loitering, littering, doing laundry, and bringing wheeled items such as wagons or shopping carts into the building. They require shirt, shoes and adequate clothing to be worn at all times. Most limit the size and number of parcels that may be brought into the library with patrons. For violation of these policies, patrons can be asked to leave, be expelled from the library and library properties for a period of time (usually somewhere between one day and one year) or they could face criminal prosecution depending on the library, the city, and which ordinances are in place.

Next she uses examples of case law to discuss the legality of restricting access to public libraries based on the above policies. While the results of the individual trials were mixed. The general consensus of her discussion is the the library is a limited public forum and  as such, reasonable limits can be placed on behaviors and library usage. Expelling someone from the public library is legal as long as the rules about what constitutes a disruption of use by other library patrons are specific, clear, fair and equally enforced.

Finally, the author discussed whether these library policies are just. Even if they are technically legal, is it right to expel library patrons because they are homeless? Are these libraries failing in the mission of all libraries by restricting access of homeless populations? Bardoff’s overwhelming answer is “yes.” While it is widely considered both legal and justifiable to restrict access to the public library based on odor, appearance, and baggage those libraries are failing to meet the information needs of those poorest patrons. Instead of building barriers to restrict access, they should be building bridges and providing more outreach. The public library may be their only access point to keep in touch with family and friends, read the news, find jobs or housing and even just to read for pleasure. Blocking their access to the library blocks access to that needed lifeline.

The theory being examined in this article is whether it is ethical to expel homeless patrons from a public space such as the library. The theory guiding the research would most likely be ALA/Professional Ethics theory. The population is the homeless in general and in public libraries specifically. I understand and agree with Bardoff’s conclusion,that public libraries should provide free and open access to information, even to and perhaps especially to the homeless. I also understand the plight of the library staff member when faced with a patron whose odor is so bad that it is all you can do to keep from gagging. I understand the looks of horror you get from patrons when you are trying to hush the schizophrenic patron that is telling her invisible crew about cutting up her babies and making them into hamburger. I sympathize with the patron who gives the side eye to the man sprawled asleep in the library chair surrounded by a pile backpacks, bags and boxes of all sizes. I feel the disgust when going to the bathroom area and there is a man picking the lice out of his beard and hair by the communal sinks. I know the sadness of having to call the police to escort someone that I know is homeless out is below zero weather because he is obviously drunk and is highly disruptive. Largely these people are ignored or marginalized. If they are noticed most of the time, it is more of a “there but for the grace of God. . .” kind of thought. There has to be a balance between providing these people access to information and attempting to expel them from the library entirely.

Bardoff, Corina. "Homelessness and the Ethics of Information Access." Serials Librarian 69, no. 3/4 (October 2015): 347-360. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 27, 2018).