SHELLEY TERRY
ASHTABULA - - Library patrons may notice a tangible difference weekday afternoons in the 300 block of West 44th Street.
Police officers are perusing the area to address a growing problem with unsupervised children inside and outside of the Ashtabula Public Library. Many of those children are staying at the library and using the computers after school until their parents pick them up.
"Sometimes they're not as respectful as they should be; sometimes they don't use very nice language," said Barb Tack, youth services coordinator. "You ask them to be quiet and they don't. If you ask me, it's about respect."
Ashtabula Police Capt. Robert Stell said the department has been asked to beef up visibility in the area to monitor unruly, rude and disruptive behavior.
"There's a lot of kids in the area, waiting for parents or buses," Stell said. "So, you get fights ... kids are kids. We're going to continue to patrol the area."
The library is located next door to Lakeside Junior High School.
Stell believes the additional officers are making a difference.
Earlier this week, there was an incident off-site involving a student from the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT), said spokesman Nick Wilson, noting the ECOT students were using the library for testing all week.
After the altercation, ECOT hired security for the last few days at the library.
"We understand the library is a gathering place," Wilson said. "It was a precautionary measure."
Wilson estimates there are about 100 ECOT students in Ashtabula County.
