For several years, the East Columbia library branch was overrun with middle school students from the Cradlerock School at dismissal time, and library staff received complaints on a daily basis from the other patrons about the unruly youth. This behavior as well as vandalism of the library building and property resulted in a uniformed police officer being placed at East Columbia every afternoon. The decision was made to work with the youth and create a structured environment in which they could benefit from the resources of the library while not interfering with the other library patrons.

Middle school students from the Cradlerock School identified by school staff as being at-risk of academic failure that rely on the library as a “safe” place to go after school.