Library visitors at Winnipeg’s downtown branch may have to wait if they want to take out books from the non-fiction section, as the fourth floor remains closed in response to safety concerns.

A 40-year-old man died by suicide after climbing over the railing on the fourth-floor balcony at the Millennium Library and jumping on Aug. 6. Another person tried to climb over the railing last week, which led the city to close the fourth floor temporarily to visitors.

On Monday, a security barrier had been drawn across the stairs leading from the third floor to the fourth, with a security guard sitting beside it.

A sign advised visitors to ask staff on the first and second floors for help in getting books from the fourth floor, which houses the non-fiction books.

“We are working to minimize any service disruptions and reopen the fourth floor space as soon as possible,” city spokesperson Pam McKenzie wrote in an emailed statement.

People can also ask staff on the first and second floors for help with computer bookings and information services, while the local history room is temporarily closed, McKenzie wrote.

Patrons frustrated

The decision to shut the fourth floor is frustrating for Amber Fontaine, who visited the library Monday morning.

“I don’t really like the fourth floor being closed,” she said.

“I don’t know how long it’s been closed. I just started coming back to the library, but I have to put my books on hold and then … they have to go pick [them up] for me, and then I gotta come back in a couple days.”

Library patron Stephen Manviler says the city should install a barrier.

“Just put a cover over the top of the back there and probably everything would be good. That’ll prevent it, right?” he said.

The Aug. 6 incident was not the first time someone had died after jumping off the Millennium Library’s fourth-floor balcony. A similar incident occurred In 2017, when a 25-year-old man died. 

The city brought in metal detectors and security checks at the entrance to the library following a fatal stabbing in 2022. Despite the recent events, Manviler says he feels safe coming to the library.

“It’s bad, but I still feel pretty safe here when I come here,” he said, adding that he supports security measures such as bag checks for people entering the library.

In the past, the Community Connections space inside the lobby had crisis workers available to help people coming into the library, but it closed at the start of this year after funding ran out.

One library user said the city should reconsider that decision.

“I think they need to do what they have to do to make it safer and ideally open up that space, once again, that helped out the community in the front there,” said Tami, who only gave her first name.

“I think the librarians made a very good point, that that space was helping a lot of people that are in this area and it needs to be reopened.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham and other city officials have argued that the Community Connections space was not appropriate for the service, as it was located outside the security barriers. They have also said the provincial government should fund it, as staff were helping people with matters related to provincial responsibility such as housing and health.

Gord Delbridge, president of CUPE Local 500, the union representing library workers, said no update has been given regarding when the fourth floor could reopen. 

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