What really happened to Vigo Co. Public Library benches

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Social media has been buzzing about the recent disappearance of the outdoor benches near the Vigo Co. Public Library.

When the benches outside of the Vigo Co. Public Library vanished, people began to speculate that the city was removing the benches in an attempt to relocate the homeless population. In reality, Terre Haute Human Relations Commission executive director Anne-Therese Ryan says the city does not even own the benches.

“The city, obviously we do manage the public right-of-way, but businesses and organizations have the right to customize the space outside of their facilities and buildings,” Ryan said. “Those benches do belong to the library.”

It turns out, customizing the outside space is exactly what the library is doing. Public relations manager Shaleena Barker says the benches are under repair and they will be only be gone temporarily.

“Some of the things that we have been working on for the last year or so is revitalizing at the main branch everything that the public sees visually,” Barker said. “I can tell you that we’ve worked on replacing our large identification signage, some of the vinyl for our library doors and windows. All of that has been swapped out, and the benches were just sort of the next step in that plan.”

Barker added that the library does not know how long the repair process will take or when the benches will return. However, she said they absolutely will return.

Terre Haute mayor Brandon Sakbun says that the city has been working to address the homelessness issue with resources such as affordable housing and recovery centers.

“We view those resources as kind of like the point guard on the basketball court,” Sakbun said. “Facilitating an offense by working with individuals and getting them back home to their families, getting them basic healthcare if needed, or referring them to some of our many mental health organizations here in the community.”

The library will also host a resource fair for the community at the main branch on September 9.

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