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Kitsap library director says shelter funding loss increased incidents at two branches
Summary
Library Director Jason Driver told the board that a recent reduction in Salvation Army shelter funding has pushed more people to use the Sylvan Way and MLK libraries for daytime shelter, increasing behavioral incidents and prompting exploration of a temporary embedded social-worker partnership to support staff and patrons.
Library Director Jason Driver told the Kitsap Regional Library Board of Trustees on March 24 that a recent funding loss to a local Salvation Army shelter "has really impacted two libraries," citing Sylvan Way and the MLK branch as particularly affected.
"That shelter has long provided critical daytime refuge, especially in the winter for patrons who are unhoused," Driver said. He told trustees the loss of that daytime refuge has increased the number of people relying on library spaces and contributed to a rise in behavioral incidents and incident reports, which has strained staff capacity.
Driver said the system is under-resourced to meet the increased demand and emphasized staff safety and training. He praised Deputy Director of Public Services Shannon Peterson for arranging respite time for branch leaders and said the leadership team is exploring partnerships with community organizations. "One of the things we are looking at... is how might we have some sort of long term partnership, with a social worker, that we can embed into these spaces, at least on a temporary basis," Driver said, noting the arrangement would be temporary and intended to help staff manage complex human-service needs.
The director connected the shift to broader community needs and said the library is engaging county partners and facility committees to seek solutions, particularly for Sylvan Way. Driver asked trustees to recognize frontline staff's work during the increased demand.
No formal action was taken; the report concluded with a request that trustees continue supporting staff and allow leadership to pursue community partnerships and operational responses.
