AIBU to question praying and sleeping in the library kids area?

Again, you’re struggling with context. This wasn’t an organised religious event.

Singing classes have no place in libraries. People need peace and quiet to read and study, especially young people with no quiet place to study at home. Praying and sleeping are far preferable because they are usually silent, bar a bit of snoring and the clicking of prayer beads.

No I'm struggling to understand why some people think they can hide behind racism.
I can't imagine the poster will be back with the same 'boycott our libraries' thread next month when libraries start holding Easter events.

@SpiritAdder Mum sing a long classes are clearly advised at the library. Therefore you know that's what you may encounter. I don't see the library advertising "safe sleep space" "pray freely in the kids area" advertised. Therefore I don't expect to encounter it at the library.

Ah yes. The UK is uniquely tolerant/foolish (delete according to your political persuasion). Mark my works, this is how it starts, praying in public libraries. By 2030, the UK will be a majority Muslim country because 6.5% can become 100% in four years. It's all the fault of Starmer and the WEF.

@saveforthat I feel we are too scared to challenge people now at the fear we will be accused of something horrible. I think that's also how the librarian staff maybe feel.

What you are actually struggling to understand, is context.

@AgnesMcDoo because it wouldn't be tolerated in other countries.

Did I miss the part that the library reserved the space as his personal prayer room or where the man told OP to leave, or did you make it up?
Ordinarily prayers would be done in a more private space, if someone for whatever reason felt the need to pray in an open public area then they would be aware of the public being around them. Though given the OP was there at a time that the vast majority of children would have been at nursery or school it might have seemed the least in demand space at the time.

As I said I'm not religious but if you object to a few minutes of personal reflection and thanks, which is what praying is, I think that says a lot about you as a person.

You’re sounding a bit unhinged here, like you think there is some kind of cult conspiracy to intimidate people in the library.

So children should avoid their area in the library while a grown man gets on his knees and chants to an invisible man in the sky!?

As long as that would also extend to someone sitting down with their eyes closed whispering their Hail Marys twiddling with their rosemary beads.

The children I had with me are all under three and not at nursery yet. Anyway, I won't return to the library with my children. Soon the library will die out and it will become a shelter. I feel is a shame for children.

I work in a library.
Our policy in the library is to allow people to nap in a chair if not causing an obstruction or causing a problem, we have a line of chairs in a quiet area, but no lying down across chairs or on the floor.
No lone adults in the children's area, no moving about of mats or the main chairs, adults are asked to leave the children's area if just sitting or hanging about. Adults can look for books etc without children but we don't want adults on their own sitting observing children. This is a safe guarding risk.
We have adult seating areas.
So we when we became aware of the person sleeping we would have asked them to move to the quiet area. The man praying, if we could have stopped him prior to starting we would have asked him to move to an appropriate area, such as our quiet area, and not fold up our mat as it prevents children from using it and may damage the mat. If he was part way through I would have left him, and waited for him to finish and then told him not to do that again and explained the options. I would also suggest he bring his own mat.
If any of those people complained I would have explained that we want everyone to feel welcome and have space to enjoy the books and the library as intended. Sleeping and praying is not our primary function but we have suitable areas where people are most welcome to rest or pray. We have 4 suitable areas for adults so I never know why they want to hang out in the kids area!
Children need to be protected, families can easily be put off by lone adults in the children's area and we are keen to keep this area welcoming and safe. I am not afraid to tell adults if they are not being considerate and regularly move people into other areas.

I don't get why it's inappropriate?what's wrong with prayers and rest?

Tbf objecting to someone praying is pretty horrible. I mean, you're objecting to taking a few minutes of their day to reflect, give thanks, and remind themselves of the need to be humble.
I'm not religious but I struggle to see what is offensive about that.

Honestly, what is your point with this questioning? Where are you coming from with this? A man went into a library in a kids area and started worshiping a supernatural being knowing full well it would intimidate children and parents. He wanted to mark his territory and prove that his particular supernatural entity was above the children or anyone else wanting to use the library. Stop with the virtue signalling nonsense, do you really think it helps anybody? This is unacceptable behaviour, as well you know.

Don’t be scared away from your local library! Go back and next time speak to the staff.

The children I had with me are all under three and not at nursery yet. Anyway, I won't return to the library with my children. Soon the library will die out and it will become a shelter. I feel is a shame for children.

@TY78910 🤣🤣 I took the pictures to go straight on the family group chat because I was so shocked by it🤣 I wouldn't post the pictures with people's in it on here.

Tbf objecting to someone praying is pretty horrible. I mean, you're objecting to taking a few minutes of their day to reflect, give thanks, and remind themselves of the need to be humble.
I'm not religious but I struggle to see what is offensive about that.