Newmarket Public Library is handing out letters to people with body odour, pointing out that free showers and laundry facilities are close by.

But the letter is creating a stink with some people who say the letter discriminates against the homeless.

In January, the Park Avenue library created a notice for its staff to hand out to some patrons who have a strong odour. The letter asks the offending person to “take steps to control this odour before your future visits to the library.” It also notifies the visitor of the free public showers and laundry facilities available at the nearby Trinity United Church.

Library CEO Todd Kyle says the letter is not meant to specifically target the many homeless or at-risk people who often use the library. However, he says a local organization that deals with homeless and at-risk people was consulted before the letter was drafted.

He also notes many other library users have openly complained about the financially disadvantaged who often stay at the library all day. In fact, some people have suggested to staff the homeless should not be allowed into the facility at all.

“I’ve had people comment to me that it’s too bad we have human rights laws, otherwise you could kick them out; I don’t have a response to that,” he said. “I understand the concern in the community; it runs both ways. Some people are concerned about the library and other public facilities being open to everybody that needs it. Other people are concerned about the presence of people that might make them uncomfortable. We try to balance that.”

Kyle insists the letter can be distributed to anyone with a strong smell — whether that’s due to body odour or an excessive amount of perfume.

About two letters have been given out so far, he said.

“The way we’ve always managed behaviour that might bother others or (cause) a safety or health issue has been to deal with people on a one-on-one basis,” Kyle said. “We have the legal power to ask people to leave and ban them for a period of time. When it came to this issue, we found it’s a very difficult situation for the staff member and the library user to have to verbally pass on the message. This gives us the opportunity to not have to embarrass them, (as well as) preserve their dignity and get our message across without having to put our staff at risk. It’s a creative solution to an issue. This was an attempt to get that message across in the most dignified way possible. There’s a number of different instances where we might need to comment on a person’s odour.”

Kyle says several other libraries do kick out patrons for excessive odour — but he feels that measure is inappropriate.

However, at least one local homeless advocate is calling the notice “degrading”.

“Wow. I’m speechless,” Tom Pearson said, after being shown a copy of the letter. “It’s as degrading an experience as I can only imagine one having to go through in a spot they’ve used to socialize and get warm in for many years. A person in a wheelchair may only get access to (a) shower twice a week — would they be cited too? There are plenty of places with perfume type policies but they are certainly not rolled out in this manner. If you ask me, it’s also discriminatory.”

Workplace scent policies have become fairly common in recent years, out of respect for sensitivities and allergies related to chemical exposure. The Ontario Human Rights Commission acknowledges health problems ranging from headaches and difficulty with concentration to skin irritation and upper respiratory symptoms can occur when someone with sensitivity is exposed to strong scents.

However, that usually refers to reactions from chemicals in products such as shampoo, lotion, deodorant, cologne or cosmetics in, not a natural odour.

The letter specifically mentions “complaints received” about “persistent, noticeable odour from your person that is affecting other users’ enjoyment of library facilities.”

However, anyone given the notice is not immediately asked to leave. Patrons are only kicked out of the library for behavioural reasons such as harassment, violence, excessive noise or anything that makes other users feel unsafe. Any ban handed out is temporary, Kyle said.

When asked whether receiving such a letter would be embarrassing to the point of dissuading a person from returning, Kyle admits “that is possible.”

“All it is is a way of asking people for their co-operation and providing them with alternatives,” Kyle said. “It makes it clear they’re not being asked to leave now and they’re welcome to continue using (the library) in the future. We have to balance the rights of everybody in the community.”

Several people have expressed concern about the library’s letter on social media over the last few days, suggesting it appears to unfairly target some of the town’s most vulnerable citizens.

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Kyle has taken a “hiatus” from his @nplceo Twitter handle as a result of the criticism and notes none of the people who took issue with the library’s stance contacted him through more direct platforms, such as email or telephone.

“I’m a little puzzled by the method by which some people brought their concerns forward,” he said. “Social media is not the place to have those kinds of discussions. If people really wanted to solve the problem, this isn’t necessarily the way they would go about doing it. Nobody has asked questions in a more formal format. The people we’re hearing from are not professionally dealing with the homeless. If anyone has a concern and wishes to sit down and talk about it, I’m happy to do so.”

Kyle said the library does regularly provide a number of services to homeless and at-risk people. They can use computers and telephones to search for jobs and access social services. Staff will also connect visitors to Inn From the Cold and other York Region social services, but he stresses it’s not the library’s role to find long-term solutions to homelessness issues.