New Law Bans People From Library Who Have B.O.

[matcom]

<snip>

HOUSTON -- Shhh! No talking or stinking in the library!

The Houston City Council has passed new regulations that allow librarians to kick out patrons whose "offensive bodily hygiene" is a nuisance to others.

Houston's public libraries have a new set of rules that bans body odor, bathing in library restrooms, eating packaged food, sleeping and shaving in the city facilities.

Houston Mayor Bill White said there have been many complaints about abuse of library facilities. Critics say the regulations are aimed at keeping the homeless out of the libraries.

Houston City Council passed the regulations Wednesday, which some consider a veiled attempt at prohibiting homeless people from using the libraries.

The new rules grant librarians the authority to remove offending patrons.

"What we've done is updated, expanded and made some modifications to (the old rules)," Houston Public Library spokeswoman Sandra Fernandez said. "We take all complaints seriously enough to look into them, but we do ultimately use judgment and discretion as to whether or not there is a basis for the complaint."

Fernandez said the library wants the city to reflect changes in society by updating its rules for customers. The goal is to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for those who visit the library.

With the help of the city's legal department, the library came up with the following new rules:

Patrons with offensive bodily hygiene that constitutes a nuisance to others will not be allowed inside the library.
People sleeping or putting their head, feet or legs on tables will be asked to leave.
Visitors will no longer be allowed to use restrooms to change clothes, bathe or shave.
Customers viewing obscene material on the Internet could be asked to leave.
Blankets and backpacks that are too big are prohibited.

http://www.wftv.com/news/4425183/detail.html

[Goldom]

1. You know how sometimes you know who a thread is by

as soon as you see the title?

Yeah.

[PittPoliSci]

2. i think this should go both ways...

people who have terrible cologne or perfume on shouldn't be allowed in libraries either. i don't need to smell anything when i'm trying to study.

[Squatch]

6. Or restaraunts. I want to taste my food, not smell other patrons.

[PittPoliSci]

7. i like that idea too.

[RPM]

3. so they are targeting the homeless, eh?

I can see through this rule to the true intent....

[hlthe2b]

4. I'd be happy if they just enforced the noise rules....

At the risk of sounding like I'm a 90 year old blaming the new fangled generation (I'm not), this has been an increasing problem in the past decade. The young don't respect the quiet required in libraries, but neither do many older patrons. Very irritating.


But, I think the homeless need access to libraries. They need to make arrangements with a shelter to refer them for a shower and then invite their return, IMO.

[catmandu57]

9. So do I

I remember when the library was a place one talked in whispers, and the stern old librarian would strictly enforce the noise rules, now it's so loud in most libraries, I don't know how people get anything done.

This is pretty transparent though, anyone can see who the real target is.

[sui generis]

5. "excuse me ma'am, you stink, you'll have to leave now"

I wonder if they'll use stink detectors with meters kind of like radar detectors.

Typical stupid law based on something so subjective . . . it will be still be on the books 200 years from now as one of those "quaint" don't-fuck-your-donkey-on-Tuesday laws.

[Blue-Jay]

8. The perfect job for sniffa!

He can be the library's BO-sniffa.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. That won't last long...

Richard Kreimer sued the Morristown, NJ library for banning him when he was homeless and quite offensive.

He won $150,000.

(Damn trial lawyers!)

[ContraBass Black]

11. What's too large for a backpack?

Schoolbooks can be massive.

[Lilith Velkor]

12. Banned if you bathe, banned if you don't.

Mmmmmmmmk.

[unkachuck]

13. why stop at 'offensive oder', Houston?....

....you should pass a law EXECUTING homeless library people and then sell their body parts to repug organ donating groups....

....the proceeds could be used to help support the Tom Delay legal fund.... :)

[BringEmOn]

14. No problem....Freepers rarely use libraries.