"The issues have been ongoing for months. The mayor's Chief of Staff had a meeting with library, high school, and police department representatives to talk about 'teen behavior concerns in and around the library' in February, with police having been called in to respond to some incidents."
"We recognize that the behaviors we've encountered reflect broader systemic issues affecting community public safety, and we are actively working to address the underlying causes," the city said in a statement on Sept. 3.
"We're taking immediate steps to improve safety including bringing on a security firm trained in de-escalation, and security cameras have been installed," according to a statement from Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.
"The Central Library branch on Highland Avenue temporarily implemented mid-day closures earlier this month due to an 'ongoing pattern of serious, disruptive, and sometimes dangerous occurrences during mid-day hours' which have 'really shaken staff and members of the public,'" Somerville City Council President Ben Ewen-Campen said.
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