MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — Some may have noticed that several of the Multnomah County Library's branches have randomly been closed lately or gone to door service only.
Less than two weeks ago, the Gresham Library went to door service only for the day because of a staffing shortage, they said. The day before, the Northwest branch was closed completely, also because of a staffing shortage. The latter two had to close two weeks earlier for the same reason.
Belmont was closed just a few days before and again the week before that.
All of these closures were just in the month of March.
Annie Lewis, Multnomah County Library’s deputy director, said the library recently signed a new contract with the union representing the library's staff, and it includes a big change: Every library branch needs to have a "person in charge" for the day.
That person is — as stated on the tin — in charge, so they're the ones who must deal with any safety or security issues that come up, including “escalated language and even physical issues,” Lewis explained.
RELATED: Oregon libraries face budget cuts on top of safety issues, record number of book ban attempts
Before the contract, the library could assign someone that job, but now, someone has to opt in, and if no one steps up, the library can't open.
This all went into effect March 1, and then, libraries started closing throughout March.
“Not all staff are able to serve in that role or have a desire to serve in that role, and that's for a variety of factors that is really based on the individual's experience, their own history and their interest in terms of working at,” Lewis said.
Now, the library said it's working on hiring new supervisors who would be required to fill the person-in-charge role, but Lewis said the library is also understaffed, and that's contributing to the issue. There are several job vacancies staff are trying to fill now.
A December audit showed that many Multnomah County library workers don’t feel safe or supported at work, with unequipped staff having to deal with housing and mental health crises across the county. More recently, Portland police have started targeting city blocks around the Multnomah County Central Library in Southwest Portland, periodically arresting drug dealers at the new "fentanyl hot spot."