Trying to serve the needs of kids without getting the library burnt down

Lock the Library! Rowdy Students Are Taking Over examines some of the drastic measures libraries are having to take to deal with kids run amuck. (It may require registration.)

Some studies looking at libraries, rudeness as a problem, and
fears parents have in raising their kids in today's society: (They require registration to read the contents, but an abstract is available without registration.)

Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century

Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on Rudeness in America

A Lot Easier Said Than Done: Parents Talk About Raising Children in Today's America

One colleague who works in an inner-city library described the library closing it doors after school hours as 'a bunch of wimps'. But it is a real problem libraries are facing during a time when they're trying to maintain a safe and inviting place for kids to come rather than hanging out on the streets. And of course libraries are also challenged by those who are attracted to kids who may prey upon them, with the library being an excellent place to troll. But librarians aren't really baby-sitters, either. Parents need to take more responsibility for their kids in public places. A lot of libraries have policies about unaccompanied minors, for example. And sometimes homeless people are a problem in libraries, although many libraries try to be a place that serves the needs of everyone, especially those who do not have access to information otherwise.

I don't work in this environment, but I can see it must be very challenging to balance one's mission with maintaining an atmosphere where people can seek the haven of books without worrying about their or their children's safety.