► Related: Woman arrested after neighbor fatally overdosed on heroin ► Related: Michigan drug overdose deaths up 14% Librarians told the Associated Press that libraries’ public access, secluded nooks and corners and the possibility for few interactions with people make libraries attractive to people looking for a place to use heroin.

'We wanted to make sure we were doing the right things when the paramedics arrive.” 'We were concerned enough to ask (the Lansing Fire Department) to come and give our staff and guards additional training on how to deal with these situations,” Hirten said. She said at least one patron walked through the library and collapsed outside another collapsed on the stairwell.

Hirten said the overdoses happened at the Downtown and South Lansing library branches. 'We had three overdoses within one month, which was just highly unusual,' Hirten said. Maureen Hirten, executive director for Capital Area District Libraries, said district staff and security guards received training after an increase in heroin-related incidents last fall.

Library officials around the country are learning how to recognize and respond to people who may be using heroin at the library or suffering from an overdose.Īnd Lansing's libraries are no exception.

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