Brodie Library was temporarily closed on Wednesday following an alleged assault on a staff member on Tuesday evening.
According to the library, they have been seeing an increasing number of security incidents of escalating severity in the past few months, including abuse, assault and threats of violence.
The library added that the incident involved an unprovoked attack by a patron who had already been banned from the premises under a No Trespass Notice.
“The assault was severe enough to require medical attention for the employee and has left them and the rest of the Brodie staff team traumatized and frightened for their safety at work,” said the Thunder Bay Public Library in a release. “Thunder Bay Public Library takes the safety and security of its staff members seriously.”
“The decision to close the branch for the day was made in order to give staff time to recover from the incident and speak to mental health professionals as well as to discuss increasing security measures moving forward.”
The library has begun conducting a review of safety and security protocols.
The Library’s Board of Directors recently approved a motion to request additional funding from Thunder Bay City Council to improve safety and security at the Library, including the hiring of full-time security guards.
“We expect this situation to get worse before it gets better due to the closure of safe consumption sites and the planned demolition of VictoriaVille,” said CEO Richard Togman. “The patrons of the library, who include senior citizens, families with children, and youth among others, deserve a safe environment. We have been receiving emails daily from Library patrons letting us know they are refusing to return to the Library until safety improves.”
The library says they have seen a 38 per cent rise in incidents when comparing the first quarter of 2024 and 2025.
A spokesperson for the Thunder Bay Police Service says there is no information available at this time.
