When you think of a librarian, you might picture the familiar stereotype of a stern woman shushing noisy visitors. Perhaps you envisage a kind booklover recommending a new series to a child, or a Dewey Decimal System enthusiast.
But in British Columbia under the NDP, librarians are increasingly being forced into roles they never signed up for. Instead of simply managing books and community programs, they are now calling 911 for overdoses, patrolling washrooms to stop drug use, and cleaning up needles and paraphernalia.
Library staff must de-escalate violent confrontations, remove inebriated individuals, and manage situations far beyond their training—because those in crisis have nowhere else to go.
In 2022 at the Prince George Public Library, an occupational safety officer ordered the Bob Harkins branch to provide staff with hepatitis B vaccinations, training on handling biohazards, and education on bloodborne pathogens. Security officers were given stab-resistant vests.
Meanwhile, at the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL), a recent news report revealed that staff filed 732 incident reports across its 12 branches in 2024 – marking a staggering 200% increase since 2021.
As workplace conditions deteriorate, more library staff are taking stress leave, requesting transfers out of downtown Victoria, or leaving the profession altogether. The GVPL is now understaffed, and some employees have had to undergo Management of Aggressive Behaviour training. Others have received specialized instruction in homelessness and trauma-informed care.
Of course, most librarians appreciate opportunities for professional development. But let's be honest: isn't it deeply concerning that library workers now need training on managing aggressive behaviour?
Even more telling, the GVPL is considering training staff in mental health first aid. While this could be a useful skill for anyone, it raises an urgent question: how did we get to this point?
This isn't fair to any party involved.
Library staff should not be expected to act as social workers. Library science is a specialized field, and those passionate about it shouldn't be pushed out because their workplaces have become unsafe.
Patrons shouldn't have to feel physically threatened in a space meant for reading, studying, and learning.
And those struggling with mental illness, addiction, homelessness, and/or brain injuries deserve real support – not just a warm place to stay until they are inevitably removed. The root of this problem is that B.C. lacks appropriate shelters, treatment centres, and other resources for people in crisis.
With nowhere else to go, these individuals end up in libraries—the last remaining public space where one can stay warm, use a computer, and linger for hours without spending money.
There's a difference between librarians sharing information on community resources and being retrained as crisis responders.
We need to restore public safety and ensure that those who pose a risk to themselves or others have access to the care they need. Mental health and addiction challenges come in many forms, and our health and social services must be able to respond accordingly.
Let's stop asking librarians to fill the gaps in a broken system.
Claire Rattée is the BC Conservative critic for mental health and addictions, and the MLA for Skeena.
