(I raised my review to 5 star because they're super nice and it's a wonderful place, and that they did finally after I left my original review take down the toxic lead based portrait from the kids section that had been within reach of even a toddler, but will leave my original post because of the risk that had been there for children and in the hopes that things like that will never happen again. Thanks for finally (only after I left this review) taking it down, but most of all a thank you for all the important programs you do for kids and the public it is very appreciated and all you kindness to patrons as well).
This makes me sick to my stomach. I reported a concern via email to the library itself well over a year ago asking about the LEAD CONTENT in this stained glass window in the CHILDREN'S SECTION of the Barrie Downtown Library that is still currently hanging well within easy reach for even young toddlers and children.
The CDC states: "Lead exposure occurs when a child comes in contact with lead by touching, swallowing, or breathing in lead or lead dust." (CDC, 2022). They verified it does in fact have LEAD in it and they've been recommended by the Simcoe Muskoka Health unit since well over a year ago to remove it immediately from the reach of young children and patrons as LEAD is a known highly dangerous substance especially for young kids.
As the CDC clearly states: "Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child’s health and cause well-documented adverse effects such as:
Damage to the brain and nervous system
Slowed growth and development
Learning and behavior problems
Hearing and speech problems
This can cause:
Lower IQ
Decreased ability to pay attention
Underperformance in school
There is also evidence that childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm." (CDC, 2022).
According to the Mayo Clinic (2022), "Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal."
The downtown Barrie Library has shockingly still never removed it despite being advised to do so by the Health unit directly via phone well over a year ago, and despite the glass window hanging on hooks where it could very easily be removed from its present location. WHY is this health HAZARD to young children not being immediately removed from children's reach!? It's so low that a child could even put their mouth on it which would be incredibly dangerous for that child! As a mother myself of young children I'm extremely disappointed with the library's complete lack of care and concern for the health and safety of young vulnerable children that enter it's community space and to be so willing to casually and recklessly endanger children's lives and health for no other purpose than that the window esthetically looks nice!
Please take this dangerous decorative stained glass window down and put it elsewhere well out of patrons reach! And as instructed by the local Health unit please follow their scientific recommendations to keep it clean and inspected frequently for signs of rusting continually once placed in it's new location. As recommended by the Poison Control Centre, and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit if it starts rusting at any point as this dust would be highly dangerous for patrons and especially young children to inhale, it should then be taken down and disposed of safely, permanently and immediately at that time. I would also like to see a public apology from the Barrie Downtown Library for it's callous endangerment of young children's lives and health. I would also like to see the Simcoe Muskoka Health unit be held accountable for not properly enforcing this important issue at the time it was initially notified of this dangerous hazard of young children well over a year ago.
