CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — This week, Corpus Christi City Council approved having armed security at city-run libraries.
The initiative will cost around $300,000 annually, and not all council members agreed with the issue.
Corpus Christi District 3 Councilman Roland Barrera said that because libraries are public spaces, there's a need for more safety measures.
"Working after dark, or perhaps if they come in early and it's still dark, well maybe they'll have a little bit more peace of mind," he said.
Meantime, District 5 Councilmember Gil Hernandez said when the idea was brought to council, he felt that there wasn't enough data to support the need.
"For example, you would want to have a specific number of police reports or statistics that suggest that there is a need for it," Hernandez said.
He said that he also wants to make sure there is a clear line of communication for everyone when it comes to emergency response.
"We have the Garcia Library located on the Kaffie Middle School grounds and then we also have the library located on the Flour Bluff school grounds," he said "There has to be at least information shared on both ends about what's going to happen, what's going to transpire."
When it comes to safety in regards to public libraries that are in conjunction with area schools, Barrera did point out that the CCISD does have its own police force.
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