Question from Shellie Jeffries, Library Director at Aquinas College, Grace Hauenstein Library, Grand Rapids MI:
Hello,
My library is considering creating a meditation/prayer/relaxation room, which we hope will help with, among other things, any post-pandemic trauma our students may experience in the fall. The room we have available has a solid door and no windows. We would like it to be unlocked so students can drop in whenever, without having to ask for a key, but it can be locked.
Question we have are: do we need to be worried about inappropriate behavior in such a private room? Has this been an issue for those of you in libraries with a similar room? How are you handling it? Should we be concerned about and/or make a plan to mitigate any potential inappropriate behavior? Would keeping it locked and requiring a key make it even more private than leaving it unlocked (what with the potential for walk-ins/interrupters and all)?
We're probably overthinking this and there might not be a problem at all, but any insights and advice you have are much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Shellie Jeffries
Library Director
Aquinas College, Grace Hauenstein Library
Grand Rapids MI
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Gili Meerovitch
Principal
Pfeiffer Partners Architects
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