City to install temporary fencing in Millennium Library after suicide

The Millennium Library will reopen its fourth floor Tuesday after safety measures will be added in the wake of a suicide.

A 40-year-old man jumped over the fourth-floor railing and died Aug. 6. The floor closed indefinitely after someone threatened suicide on Aug. 20, before being stopped by a security officer.

In 2017, a 25-year-old man jumped from the fourth floor in the library and later died in hospital.

On Friday, the city confirmed crews will install temporary fencing on the third and fourth floors of the library this weekend.

“This temporary measure will remain in place while we continue to develop permanent, long-term solutions. It will be augmented by regular monitoring and continued patrol by library security,” wrote city spokeswoman Julie Dooley, in an email.

The chairwoman of city council’s community services committee, which oversees libraries, said she’s glad to see barriers put in place to reduce the risk of self harm.

“We don’t want to have another incident (like those) that we’ve been seeing on the fourth floor for the last couple of weeks. These are temporary measures until we get a more (thorough) idea of options we can do on a more permanent basis,” said Santos (Point Douglas).

The councillor said the city will hire a consultant to study options for a permanent change to the third and fourth floors. The solution must be safe and, ideally, more visually pleasing than the initial metal fence, she said.

“I think it’s important that people who are working at the library and attending the library can feel safe… (and) it is important that we reopen to the public to ensure that we continue services on the third and fourth floor,” said Santos.

The councillor said the recent incidents highlight a risk the city must address.

“It is an unfortunate scenario… when someone wants to take their life or is attempting to do harm to themselves. It goes to the greater picture of what the city, as a whole, is facing when it comes to mental health,” said Santos.

The head of the union that represents Millennium Library staff said he supports the added safety measure.

“As long as they have preventative measures (that) are adequate, I think it’s important that they reopen and continue to provide that important service to the patrons using the facilities,” said Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500.

Delbridge noted libraries provide important services, including computer access that helps people search for job opportunities and housing.

“If people are looking to improve themselves and looking for resources to do so, I think that’s an advantage to the community as a whole,” he said.

Delbridge urged the city to restore the library’s former community connections space, which connected vulnerable people with social services. It closed at the end of last year due to a budget cut.

Delbridge said CUPE is surveying library staff for input on how best to reduce the risk of safety incidents from the library’s upper floors in the longer term, which he will share with the city.

“(It’s) the staff who know their workplace best. It’s important we get feedback from them,” said Delbridge.

The union leader recently noted CUPE would consider legal action against the city if adequate steps are not taken to improve safety. However, he said he hopes the concerns can be addressed without resorting to legal action.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga