Security measures improved library safety, director says

A new security team at the Marathon County Library has led to major improvements in safety for staff and patrons, the library systems director says. 

Marathon County Public Library Director Leah Giordano says that the security has been in place for two weeks. The library sought to contract for security after a number of disturbing incidents that have made both library patrons and staff feel unsafe at the Wausau branch. 

Security already dealt with two incidents at the Wausau Branch, Giordano says. One was an agitated man possibly dealing with mental health and addiction issues. That man was escorted out quickly by security staff. And another involved a visitor stalking an employee and following her home. Security identified the person the next day and police officers were called to talk to the person about appropriate behavior, Giordano says. 

In other library news, Giordano says the Wausau branch’s elevator is starting to fail, at one point trapping an employee for a period of time. The library needs the elevator to move large amounts of books between floors and to assist disabled patrons who are unable to take the stairs.