[pjkundert]

A small city library in western Canada.

There is nothing that I as a visitor can do (without being arrested).

There is nothing the employees can do, because the vagrant can beat them, and the young thug can report them - and the judge will rule in favor of the assailants.

[PlattypusRex]

Your portrayal of libraries is inaccurate and overly negative. Library staff can ask people to leave, and if they refuse, staff can call the police and ban people like this from returning once they're removed. I grew up in libraries in suburban areas full of vagrants and junkies, and the few times they caused issues, they did what I described.

[DiggyJohnson]

How do you speak so confidently for another’s experience? I go the library sometime, but I wouldn’t take my hypothetical daughter to my local library, or at least leave her unattended, because it truly is a daytime shelter with powerless staff.

[AStonesThrow]

It is tragic but quite believable that your local library is a hostile environment. Municipal libraries can vary widely in atmosphere and clientele.

Personally I've spent loads of time hanging out in libraries from my infancy. My mother volunteered in them until I graduated high school. When I was forced to live on the streets, I found libraries to be a peaceful daytime refuge with amenities available; as long as I was respectful and never overstepped etiquette rules, I was often permitted to doze off.

I was blessed to be near a major university whose library facilities were explicitly a public service, not limited to students. The atmosphere in there was a cut above, calm and sophisticated. I never caused trouble and I never invited it, but I was occasionally locked-in after closing time!

My own city's library actually exists on park land, and it's patrolled by legitimate uniformed Park Rangers! Indeed there has been a surge of homeless and street people hanging out, but the library responded by co-locating social services, including the Section 8 housing office, in an excellent show of outreach.

The main urban library has been a much bigger zoo and practically demilitarized. There is definitely also gang activity. The homeless hangout has been curtailed a bit; unfortunately the café there closed permanently. I personally didn't feel safe, and the restroom users were frequently patrolled to keep them honest.

A real shame for you there in Canada. If you have the means to access a university library, perhaps it's more hospitable. Otherwise, appeal to your municipal leadership and get civically involved. No tax-paying family should be intimidated out of their rightful public services.

[pjkundert]

My mother ran a local small-town library for years.

It is indeed a tragic and unnecessary waste of a wonderful resource.