Library boozers won't stop drinking. City Hall wants action

Spike in alcohol incidents prompts calls for prohibition ordinance

Photo by Danny Lines on Unsplash

Drinking alcohol at the public library in downtown Sioux Falls has long been against the rules. But dozens of encounters between library staff and drinkers this year have City Hall eyeing tougher enforcement measures.

“In 2024, we have had a marked increase in the use of alcohol,” Siouxland Libraries Director Jodi Fick said, sharing with City Council members Tuesday at Carnegie Town Hall that alcohol use incidents at the downtown public library have jumped by more than 1,400 percent from last year.

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