The Wrong Way To Solve A Library Problem

"The Maplewood Library Board of Trustees voted to shut the library from 2:45 to 5 by unanimous vote this evening. "

This was the terse announcement that hit residents of Maplewood, New Jersey on December 20th (the story has been getting a lot of publicity this past week). It seems that the Baker Street Branch of the Mapleton Public Library is just a few steps away from a middle school, whose students were running so rampant that they posed a safety hazard for both patrons and library personnel. The staff are still in the buildings (there are two branches) and on the clock during the new afternoon hours.

I have deep sympathy for those who work there, and they certainly, are entitled to more protection than they have been getting. But is shuttering the buildings for several hours on weekdays the best solution? Don't those patrons who have not been acting out in the library deserve to continue to have full access to it?

Why not simply hire more guards, or bring in some local police officers to keep an eye on things?