It is not a sight you would expect in a country town - a black-clad security guard stationed at the entry to the local public library.
But it's an increasingly common sight across Australia, as governments turn to the private security sector to improve safety.
It's a trend that some find reassuring, and others alarming.
Bryan de Caires, who heads the Australian Security Industry Association, says demand is growing every year.
"Over the last 10 to 15 years we've seen significant growth, and at the moment there's 155,000 licensed personnel in Australia," Mr de Caires says.
"That's a greater number than if you add up all the law enforcement and military officers in Australia.
"It's a real growth spike and it's expected to continue to grow."
Security guards are popping up at locations such as schools trying to contain violence among students, in shopping strips where traders are worried about vandalism, and at private suburban parties.
A fly-in, fly-out model is being used to patrol remote locations such as mine sites.
In northern Western Australia, the Education Department flies security guards to some remote Aboriginal communities to monitor school buildings and teacher houses while staff are away for the holidays.
So what's driving the increase in private security?
Professor of criminology at the University of Sydney Murray Lee says there are a range of factors contributing to the increase.
"It's not as though we've particularly reduced funding to police, so I don't think that's the key driver," Professor Lee says.
"I think as a society [we've] become more focused on the assessment of risks, and the liabilities concerned if we don't secure a premise and ensure people's safety - that's a real trend.
"And there's been a growth in inequality here in Australia, that creates a situation where those that can afford it can use their wealth to provide an extra layer of security.
"We've also seen the public fear of crime politicised in a whole lot of ways."
Nationally, the increase in private security doesn't appear to correlate with an increase in crime.
Data shows overall reductions in most types of offending over the past two decades.
However, Professor Lee points out the trends are not across the board.
In some northern towns in particular, break-ins and car theft have been increasing, as communities wrestle with destructive behaviour by a relatively small number of children and teenagers.
Antisocial behaviour is also on the rise in places like Broome, where drunken violence is a common sight in public spaces.
Shire of Broome president Desiree Male says they've had to contract a security guard to stand at the entry to local public library to ensure the safety of staff and patrons.
"The behaviour is very disappointing and quite frankly, unacceptable," she says.
"We were experiencing an increase in people being humbugged, harassed and feeling threatened, so we had to act on that.
"I don't think it's normal to have a security guard at somewhere like a library, however; I do think the general public understands we're looking after their safety."
The library has had to reduce its opening hours to offset the added cost of the security guard.
There's been a mixed response among library regulars like Margaret Moore.
"It's not a nice feeling, seeing security guards," she says.
"It's a bit disconcerting when you're used to not having them.
"But there is some behaviour going on, it's not on and it's very sad."
There has also been an increase in the fortification of homes and shops in some parts of northern Australia.
Some residents have laced their fences and gates with barbed wire, and security companies are reporting a spike in demand for surveillance systems.
Professor Lee says the trend is not something usually associated with Australia.
"I suppose it conjures up images of the worst of high crime areas like South Africa and places like that when you think about the use of barbed wire fences and things to secure a perimeter," Professor Lee says.
"It's not something we've been accustomed to in Australia, and but I think when you see the levels of inequality and a sense in some communities that they're being left out of what you could call the Australia Dream . then you'll increasingly get this kind of outcome."
According to the Australian Security Industry Association, change is on the horizon.
There are an estimated 8,000 security jobs currently unfilled.
Mr de Caires says technology is rapidly developing that will allow drones and robots to patrol locations and reduce the need for a physical human presence.
"We're going to see a big increase in the use of technology to supplement human responses and make [it] lot easier to monitor remote sites," he says.
"There are a number of products already on the markets and we'll see more of that in the years to come."