The Warren Library enforces daily closures to reduce fighting among students

WARREN, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – A local library in Warren has been forced to close its doors during certain hours of the day due to ongoing arguments between students.

This year alone, police have been called to the Dorothy Busch Library more than 100 times to break up arguments between students. This ongoing problem has prompted the library to take action.

“The outrage from the employees is like, ‘Please help us. Please keep us safe,'” said Lorie Barnwell, Warren city treasurer and library commission administrator.

It’s been one fight after another that Barnwell said has left the staff and residents of the Busch Library terrified.

“Really, it’s become a chronic problem over the last year,” Barnwell said.

Located across from Fitzgerald High School, the library has become the ultimate fight club for students.

It’s an issue that prompted the Warren Library Commission last week to enforce daily closures through February.

“We have made the decision to close the Busch branch Monday through Friday from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” Barnwell said.

Barnwell says the committee has contacted the Fitzgerald Public School District several times to try to find a solution, but has received no cooperation.

She says the district’s new policy this year forces students to leave school grounds once classes end and gather in the library parking lot.

“The school district thinks that once they (students) are off our property, it’s not our problem anymore,” Barnwell said.

Warren police tell CBS News Detroit that the school district is also unwilling to meet with authorities to discuss the matter.

While the safety of the public is a top priority, police are urging the school district to enforce consequences so the library doors can remain fully open.

“We hope this is really a wake-up call. We didn’t want to close the library for this two-hour block of time, but we had to keep our residents safe. We had to keep our library staff safe,” Barnwell said.

CBS News Detroit reached out to Hollie Stange, superintendent of the Fitzgerald Public Schools, for comment on this matter, but we have not heard back.