Des Moines Library Staff Rescues Girl.

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Quick-thinking employees of the downtown Des Moines (Iowa) Public Library came to the rescue of a 20-month-old girl from a registered sex offender who allegedly grabbed her and took her to a nearby men's room around 11 a.m. October 4. Police said James C. Effler Jr. was charged with kidnapping and sexual assault after the incident, the Des Moines Register reported October 5,

Deputy Director Lorna Truck told American Libraries that the girls babysitter alerted the reference desk when she noticed the child was missing. Library staff began a search, then called the police after a child's scream indicated she was being held in the locked restroom. Pamela Deitrick, manager of the Central Library, along with Assistant Director Dorothy Kelley, tried to force the door open, but had to call Building Superintendent Bill Stokes, who opened the door with a screwdriver.

Truck said the babysitter went in to bring the child out, after which Stokes shut the door to keep the man inside. Kelley called over Technical Services Clerk Doug Blackburn to help Stokes. The guy in the restroom was throwing himself at the door," Truck said. Custodian Alan Hall "was posted outside so [Effler] wouldn't throw himself out (he window." The police came and apprehended Effler some 10 minutes later, she added.

"They are heroes," police Capt. Kelly Willis said in the Register. Acting City Manager Rick Clark agreed. "We are really thankful the library staff was there and attentive and took the initiative to do something about this," he said.

Effler was convicted in Texas in 2003 of sexually assaulting a 31-year-old woman. Des Moines police said he had grabbed the girl while her babysitter used a computer a few feet from the restroom.