Anti-social behaviour threatens Bristol's libraries

Filwood Library was shut over the summer in 2021 following reports of children climbing on the roof

Libraries are hiring security guards to tackle anti-social behaviour during school holidays.

Several libraries in Bristol have shut or changed their opening hours in the holidays to deter incidents that put people off from visiting.

Bristol City Council's head of libraries has said it's "upsetting" that these measures must be taken.

Three libraries in the city in particular face challenges with anti-social behaviour, a committee was told.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said councillors on the Communities Scrutiny Commission heard about the issues facing Bristol's 27 libraries on 20 November.

Kate Murray, head of libraries, said there had been issues in the school holidays, particularly at the libraries in Easton, Filwood, Southmead and sometimes in Hartcliffe.

"It's challenging because we absolutely want the library to be a safe space for everybody but it can't be safe if we have too much behaviour that's not conducive to other customers," she said.

"We employ a variety of efforts from engaging with PCSOs and the police, to looking at access and changing the opening hours.

"Sometimes we've had to close and sometimes we've had to put security staff in. We mix it up because sometimes things work one time and they don't work other times.

"If people who want to use the library are intimidated by other users, then they don't come in.

"The whole idea of having a library is that it's a universal service. We should be an open door, so it's upsetting for us."

'A returning threat'

Bristol's library service, the third oldest in the country having first begun 410 years ago, has been under threat in recent years due to budget cuts.

Several library closures were proposed in 2018 but these plans were scrapped after huge public opposition.

Bristol's Central Library was to be moved under one plan

"My worry is - and this is the thing that's hanging over us - in the next few years we're likely to have less money rather than more, fewer libraries rather than the same number," said councillor Martin Fodor.

"It's a threat that keeps coming back, but it's never quite happened yet," he said.

The council is planning a new library strategy next year which will likely include major upgrades to services.