‘It was my first year at Pima County Library’: Former teacher remembers his first year in Durham

Durham, North Carolina, February 8, 2021.

(Photo: Jim Cowsert/AP)The library has become one of the most iconic public institutions in the United States and the state is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

But in the days leading up to the celebration, the Pima county Public Library received a call about a potential threat.

Staff members, concerned about a possible attack, called 911.

When the emergency call went out, they rushed to the library to help.

The library received an outpouring of support from the community, but the threats did not stop there.

On the morning of February 11, 2018, a man entered the library and tried to make a phone call, said Pima library spokesperson Erin St. John.

A few minutes later, he came back and opened the door and started shooting, she said.

The man was not able to get through, so he left, St. Johns said.

He was later caught, arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

The public was warned not to enter the library during the celebration.

But the library was still closed the following day.

After a few days, a community meeting was held to discuss the threats and security measures, St Johns said, but no action was taken.

By then, the threat had been made publicly known, she added.

St. John said the library would work to ensure safety for the public, and it would continue to be an active site for visitors, with staff checking in regularly with police and emergency management officials to ensure the community was safe.

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More:Durham County Library, which opened in 1978, has a population of about 6,000 people.

It’s located in Durham and serves the Pueblo, Taos, Pima and Pinal Counties.

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