St. Paul looks to libraries as next frontier of community safety

St. Paul is investing $1.5 million in federal dollars into the public library system to enhance public safety.

The investment is a part of a new $10 million public safety initiative plan to reduce violent crime in the city.

People in the St. Paul community say the library is not just a place to read books — it’s a safe space and a community hub.

Not everyone walks into the library to turn a page. St. Paul resident Princess Titus calls the building booming with books a healing space.

“My family has been impacted by community gun violence about 12 years ago. I lost my son Anthony two weeks after his 16th birthday,” Titus said.

St. Paul was the start of a new chapter.

Titus said the St. Anthony Park Library acts as a gateway to peace.

“It gives me a good opportunity to just get away from the house and be around good people,” she said.

Maureen Hartman, St. Paul Public Library deputy director, explained the public safety investment will allow them to connect with more people and do outreach.

“All these folks are coming into the library for lots of different reasons and we want to make sure that we’re making their business as successful as possible,” Hartman said.

In the “Library Optimal Response” plan, one of the goals is to improve ways to help and support youth and adults with issues that go beyond the walls of the library.

“One of the investments we made a few years ago was in a library social worker. So that’s something that we have in our library spaces and this safety specialists program that we’ll be building out will further enhance that,” Hartman said.

Safety specialists will also be a new addition to St. Paul libraries.

In other cities, these specialists help by building relationships with regular visitors, connecting people to social services and deescalating disruptive behavior.

“I think it’s one of those spaces that is really available to most people. It’s very comfortable to most people,” said Jessica Willman, a member of the St. Anthony Park Community Council.

Willman explained the library public safety investment can meet people where they are and create safer outcomes in St. Paul.

“It’s a great investment I think for every single person in our community,” Willman said.

Looking ahead, Hartman explained the team is in the planning stages and the goal is to get the project off the ground within the next six months.