Crook County Library considers meeting room restrictions amid security issues, alcohol use, misuse concerns

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County’s public library may soon restrict use of its meeting rooms to normal operating hours after staff raised concerns about after-hours security problems, building access issues, and facility misuse.

The discussion took place during the Crook County Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 11 work session, where Lead Library Tech Kim Bales outlined a series of recurring problems associated with late-night and weekend reservations, according to the Prineville Review.

“For several months now, the meeting rooms have kind of gotten out of control,” Bales told commissioners. “We’re finding that people are drinking alcohol after hours. They’re leaving the building unlocked. We even had someone stay overnight.”

According to library staff, the current system allows groups to reserve meeting rooms outside of public hours using physical keys, which has created ongoing security concerns. Bales said some users fail to return keys, increasing the risk of unauthorized building access.

“Sometimes they don’t return the keys, and then that’s a security issue, because the keys get into the main building,” she said.

Staff also described situations where individuals entered the library after hours while cleaning crews were present, mistakenly believing the facility was open.

To address those issues, library staff are proposing that meeting rooms be available only during library operating hours. The proposed schedule discussed at the work session would limit room use to:

• Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Sunday: No meeting room use

The proposal includes a buffer before closing time to allow staff to clear rooms and secure the building.