Library not campsite: New bag policy met with resistance

Public libraries have always been a landing pad for any and all people—a home base for people who don’t have an actual home to call their own.

However, the Columbus Metro Library is putting their foot down against campers.

After very careful and empathetic deliberation between board members, Capital Crossoroads, and leaders of other venues around town, the library has decided that bags sized similarly to typically carry-on luggage are no longer welcome. Visitors must limit the items they bring in to three “bags, backpacks, boxes, carts, wheeled conveyances” not to exceed 32 by 18 by 15 inches “individually or collectively,” according to The Dispatch per policy changes.

There is already a no sleeping rule in place.

The library maintains their commitment to being a resource for the homeless but they feel this policy revamp is necessary to accommodate the comfortability of every customer patronizing the library.

These changes will take effect December 1.

The library did not take this decision lightly, and neither did one homeless woman who showed up the the library trustees meeting, reports The Dispatch.

She felt the new policy singled out the needy and that the library was waging a war against the homeless.