Library's young readers scheme backfires as teenagers run riot

Teenagers standing on desks, threatening staff, surfing the internet for adult websites, swearing and throwing scrap paper are alleged to be among a raft of problems at East Dene’s Mowbray Gardens Library.

According to one visitor, a member of staff has even had to take time off with stress due to the on-going problems.

“They are just powerless to stop the youngsters who are in there running riot and it’s the staff as well as the library’s regular visitors who are suffering,” said Jill Davies, of Eastwood.

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“A lot of money has been spent on the library—it really is fantastic—but the real book lovers are being driven away by the behaviour of these young people.”

Miss Davies said that up to ten youths had been known to congregate at the library at any one time and cause trouble.

She added: “They treat it like a playground. They are just running wild at times.”

Another library visitor reported a similar experience in a letter to the Advertiser.

She wrote: “There were kids ranging from 11 to 13 years of age rampaging all over the place, in and out of the toilets, manhandling the books and a girl of about 12 or 13 swearing for everybody to hear.

“After approaching the staff one of them finally made her leave the premises.”

A £1.1 million Lottery-funded facelift was completed last year.

Dozens of PCs and Nintendo Wii games consoles were among the additions heralded as “a 100 per cent improvement” by one visitor following its official reopening last October.

But Miss Davies claims that young people are outstaying their welcome.

She added: “They even use their parents’ library cards to beat Internet restictions placed on the library’s computers in order to access adult websites.

“They come in the library and use Facebook and other sites that are meant to be restricted. Surely that’s not what the library is for”

Rotherham Borough Council has denied that any member of the library staff had been off with stress as a result of problems with unruly youths.

But Bernard Murphy, manager of the library and information service for the council, said:

“Unfortunately, Mowbray Gardens, like all libraries and any public buildings, does occasionally suffer from bad behaviour by some of our customers and we apologise to anyone if this spoiled their visit. 

“We are working with partners to address any anti-social behaviour issues in the area.

“We hope these few incidents will not put people off visiting the library.

“Visitor numbers have doubled since it reopened last year and it has become a focal point for the local community.”

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