‘Happening everywhere;’ Dayton Metro Library official speaks out after student fights impact branch

Fights between teenagers continue to impact the Dayton Metro Library system.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00 , the Southeast branch on Watervliet Avenue will close from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Oct. 31.

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This branch is right across from Dayton Public School’s Belmont High School.

Dayton Metro Library Executive Director Jeffrey Trzeciak said there have been several fights at this location among teens during the last two years, but the most recent one was dramatic.

“We had a significant incident involving around three hundred teens,” Trzeciak said.

Joan Barber said she saw the fight break out.

“These kids came running out, it’s a fight, it’s a fight and they all came out screaming out the door and someone said they had a knife,” Barber said.

There were no reports of injuries, but the situation was serious and dangerous enough that library officials felt they needed to act.

Dayton Metro Library officials decided to temporarily close the Southeast branch during afterschool hours.

“What this will allow us to do is take a little bit of time off to look around the country, to see what others are doing, because this is happening everywhere,” Trzeciak said.

Tivona Hill told News Center 7 that she thinks teen fighting would stop if everyone was punished, including those videotaping or watching.

“If no one watches it, no one is going to do it,” Hill said.

Barber, like many other community members, are not happy that these actions have caused the library to adjust it’s hours.

“It’s a wonderful branch, it really is. It just makes me sad,” Barber said.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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