Library board vice chair tells city council Riverton branch is seeing crime, falling usage and staff strain

Martha Mossberg, vice chair of the Fremont County Library System board, urged the Riverton City Council on Sept. 16 to address rising crime and declining use at the Riverton library branch. Mossberg told council members that circulation at the Riverton branch has dropped about 20% over the past two years and locally that calls to the Riverton Police Department increased markedly starting in 2023. She said staff and board members have observed public intoxication, indecent exposure, people sleeping at computers and repeated no-loitering issues that have driven some parents to avoid bringing children to the branch. "It's not a place people want to come anymore," Mossberg said, describing the problem as concentrated at the Riverton branch rather than at other branches in the county. She said the library board is reviewing patron conduct policies and is considering changes to the code of conduct and possible extension of city no-loitering enforcement to the library property so staff can have incidents addressed more quickly. Council members and staff acknowledged the concern and noted the topic was aligned with broader city discussions about crime. City staff said they would continue to coordinate with the library board and highlighted that community safety strategies require multi-agency and policy work. Mossberg emphasized the library board is working on steps to make the Riverton branch a safer and more welcoming place and asked the council to assist where appropriate.