Congratulations to all on a good day yesterday! I enjoyed the morning sessions that I was able to attend, learned a few things for my own work here at Urban Ministries, and look forward to next week’s discussions at the Future Search meeting.

FYI: In light of the suggestions made by the morning speakers about always saying “yes,” I thought the article referenced below about appropriate and helpful ways to say “no,” might also be of interest. Sometimes "No," can help us get to "Yes."

http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/positive-no.htm

(From JLo--We have the book this article refers to in the library.  You can view the catalog record at here)

I'm delighted to hear that many of those in attendance yesterday expressed support via applause for the development of a day shelter in downtown Durham. I have mentioned the Triangle Empowerment Center on West Main, just inside the loop, to Skip, but that is primarily for people with mental health needs and disabilities. It is within walking distance for able bodied people, but some may not want to go there.

For the employees at the downtown library, I also want to share a point my Program Director, Spencer Bradford, made in a recent conversation. He suggested that the assumption that the people causing problems in the downtown library are residents and/or clients of Urban Ministries and the Community Shelter may be inaccurate. If people are causing problems at the downtown library, it is possible and likely that these same people have been banned from UMD for similar behavior. Spencer suggested that any urban library in close proximity to programs for homeless people will have to deal with the same issues. I agree.

It may be that the library needs to consider its customer/consumer code of etiquette. I think it should say that a client can be banned from the library premises for certain identified inappropriate activities.  That may go against the grain of the library being accessible to all, but the idea of “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” applies, i.e. I think the library is within its rights to enforce a certain code of conduct in the facility and hold everyone accountable to it. 

Lloyd Schmeidler

Executive Director

Urban Ministries of Durham