Winnipeg library security incidents down after safety enhancements, report says

Security incidents are down at all Winnipeg libraries and attendance numbers are up at all branches, except downtown's Millennium Library, according to a new city report.

The city ordered quarterly library attendance and incident reports to track the impact of security enhancements that were brought in after a fatal stabbing inside the Millennium Library in December 2022.

That incident led the city to install a metal detector at the entrance to the library. The city also increased the number of security guards and community safety hosts, and added crisis workers. 

In its first report, covering the period from October to December 2023, there were 353 incidents across all library branches, compared to 377 during the same period the year before.

The Millennium Library saw the biggest drop in security incidents, from 264 in 2022, to 187 in 2023 — a drop of 29 per cent.

That's despite the fact the library was closed for most of December 2022.

Safety and security incidents continue to be concerning in library branches throughout the city, particularly at the Millennium Library, although there have been improvements, Irmy Nikkel, administrative co-ordinator of support services, wrote in the report.

"For Millennium Library specifically, the increased number of traditional security guards improves the overall situation, however the addition of the community safety hosts provides an enhanced level of safety support that was not in place previously," Nikkel wrote.

The safety hosts, overseen by the non-profit community organization Fearless R2W, are trained to de-escalate situations that could pose a safety concern. 

The report credits the presence of the safety hosts with improving the morale of library staff, who otherwise would have had to intervene.

Attendance dropped at the Millennium Library from 125,542 in 2022, to 112,449 in 2023. The report states this might not be solely due to concerns about safety.

Other factors could include downtown workers not returning to their offices and discomfort with some security measures, like the metal detector. 

Attendance might rebound further over time, as public trust and comfort levels increase, Nikkel wrote in the report.

Social services

On Oct. 30 of last year, the city re-opened the Community Connections space, a hub for people seeking referrals to services like Employment and Income Assistance or mental health supports. Since then, more than 1,500 people have been referred to services.

Coun. Evan Duncan, chair of the community services committee, called the report "good news" for libraries.

"If we put the proper resources in there and if we use the proper security practices there … we can make these spaces safe and welcoming for all," he said in an interview.

Although some people may disagree with the need for some measures, like the metal detector, Duncan said he's not prepared to remove them.

He also questioned whether the library is the right place for something like the Community Connections space.

"We need to look at if we are creating our own problem by potentially having resources in inappropriate places ... There's some social services aspects to that, that are bringing people in that might be in a crisis, might be on hard times in their lives," Duncan said.

He added that he thinks the province needs to set up a hub for services somewhere else downtown.

Kate Kehler, executive director of the social planning council, served on a community committee after the city first brought in metal detectors back in 2019, before removing them a year later.

She disagreed with Duncan that the library is not the appropriate place for services like Community Connections.

"For decades [the city] would say to the province … 'social service is not our responsibility. That's the province, go to the province.' When in fact, it's right in the [City of Winnipeg Charter Act] that the city does have a responsibility to look after the health and well-being of the inhabitants," Kehler said.

Kehler wants the city to focus on redesigning the Millennium Library lobby to enhance safety. 

The city hired 1x1 Architecture to lead the redesign feasibility study. Recommendations for the redesign will be brought forward to council in the fall.

The city is seeking input on how to redesign the lobby from stakeholders, including downtown organizations, library interest groups, City of Winnipeg and library staff, and security staff.