Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to investigate the safety of Philadelphia's public libraries in order to determine the most cost-effective and least intrusive means to maintain an open atmosphere while assuring the safety for the users and employees.

WHEREAS, On February 7, 2004, an eight year old girl was sexually assaulted, left unconscious and wedged behind a toilet in the women’s bathroom of the Independence Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library; and

WHEREAS, On the date of the attack, the girl, a regular user of the Independence Branch of the Free Library, had gone to the library with her grandmother and two boys aged three and four. When she needed to use the restroom at approximately 4:15 PM she was given the key to the women’s bathroom and went alone to the bathroom; and

WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the presence of a security guard in the library, the attacker went undetected as he entered the bathroom behind the girl. The attacker was only apprehended after he sought counsel from his pastor who convinced him to voluntarily surrender to the police; and

WHEREAS, The perpetrator was convicted for a previous assault of a girl in 2000 at a Philadelphia Recreation Center, and had been banned from the Library’s central branch for inappropriate behavior; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Free Library is a resource to the entire community, ranging from parents, grandparents and small children through seniors. It is particularly a haven for Philadelphia students who frequent the many library branches after school participating in homework and other educational programs; and

WHEREAS, The recent attack undermines the confidence that parents, the schools, and the community at large have in this valuable institution, now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes its Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to investigate the safety of Philadelphia’s public libraries in order to determine the most cost-effective and least intrusive means to maintain an open atmosphere while assuring the safety for the users and employees.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That in furtherance of said investigation, the chair of Council’s Committee on Public Safety is hereby authorized to issue subpoenas or institute any other process necessary or appropriate to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

End