Shhhhh!An increase in noisy teens in and around the Morris Park Public Library is upsetting its patrons and neighbors.
Representatives from the Morris Park Community Association, Community Board 11, the 49th Precinct and P.S. 83 met to discuss potential solutions on Friday, January 15.
Parents are using the library as a daycare, a safe place their children can stay between school dismissal and when they get off from work, Al D’Angelo, president of the MPCA explained.
“What they are doing is using the library for daycare,” D’Angelo said. “In the meantime, kids are creating disturbances in the library. Seniors are afraid to go in because of the kids outside. [The seniors] are intimidated.”
Although the library offers many valuable programs and workshops, the noise discourages residents from using them, D’Angelo added.
CB11 district manager John Fratta hopes to involve the Administration for Children’s Services in the matter. Fratta thinks that leaving one’s children in the library without proper supervision constitutes neglect.
“Parents are using the library as a babysitting service,” said Fratta.“There are times when the library is closing and they have seven year olds waiting for their parents to pick them up.To me that’s parental neglect.The library is there for children and adults to go and read a book and do research, but its being used for something different now.”
The 49th Precinct is working with the community and the library to help resolve the noise and behavior complaints.
“We are aware of the problem and it’s very important for us to be there,” Captain John Greeley of the 49th Precinct said.“We will have foot posts around [the time of school] dismissals and a police presence to make sure that the library is used as it is intended.”
Reach reporter Amanda Marinaccio at (718) 742-3394 or amarinaccio@cnglocal.com
