Letter to the Editor: Officers in the Library

Re:  The Library

During a recent visit to the West Orange Public Library I was saddened to see a police officer stationed in the main reading room.  Instead of investing in much needed infrastructure and capital improvements, including a resolution of the historic Edison site, it would appear that we need to deploy public safety officers in the reading room.  I am not aware of the history or the safety needs for the deployment.  What concerns and disappoints me is the obvious decline in the values and respect for each other which has apparently resulted in this utilization of our scarce human resources.

In light of the holiday season, I would suggest that we rethink how to respond to these issues considering even the use of auxiliary police and volunteer monitors so that public safety salaries are utilized for real public safety issues and perhaps we could consider the enhancement of our library in the near future.

Best holiday wishes to all!

Roger Jacobs, West Orange, NJ

Letters to the editor can be sent to scott.egelberg@patch.com, marciaw@patch.com or carolyn.maynardparisi@patch.com.