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

[sunshine240778474]

Yesterday I took the kids to the local library (Inverness, scotland). The local library has a kids area. The kids area has a nice artificial grass mat for the kids to sit and read their books on.

When I entered the library there was a man who had folded the kids mat over so he could kneel on the floor and pray to Allah.

Therefore this prevented the kids from sitting on the mat and reading their books.
The man was praying for a while.

I don't have a problem with someone praying if that's what they want to do.

Is it appropriate to be doing it in the kids area in a local library?

Also, there was a woman curled up in the corner of the library sleeping. This was also in the kids area.

I've seen people sleeping in the library on a few occasions now. I've never seen it in the kids' area.

Ofcourse, I feel sorry for her if she's tired, but again is it appropriate to be using the local library, especially the kids area, as a shelter?

I left the library, and told the staff politely, I didn't find it kid friendly.

Was I being unreasonable?

Hmmmmm. This sort of post keeps popping up.....

@Lemonfrost oh really, so it's pretty common

YANBU on the face of it, but people will be along here shortly to accuse you of lying / having an axe to grind / being a member of Reform.

Did you ask the librarian to speak to the chap, as it sounds as if he was stopping the children’s section from being used by children?

I think id try to lean on the perspective that anyone walking into a library should be welcomed.

Totally inappropriate.

I guess it's probably difficult for the library staff to intervene, too. It must be awkward to have to wake someone up and tell them to move. Can't imagine having to do that as part of my working day. Maybe they've been told not to in the interests of avoiding confrontation.

If this is the children's section then the space should be available to do children's reading, story telling and other activities. I might like to pray or sleep but that doesn't mean that if I wish to do something in an area designated for something else my wish/need should be accommodated at the expensive of people wishing to use the area for it's designated purpose.

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

That means everyone has to share the public space and make it accessible to everyone. It’s not appropriate to take over a portion for religious pursuits, especially not in the kids section. It always annoys me when special interest groups think ‘everyone being welcomed’ means they can block a public area off and claim it for themselves. That’s not what public means at all.

🙄

No it's not ok.

YANBU

No it’s not ok

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

Oh here we go.

Surely he’d be done within minutes?

I think praying YANBU.

sleeping - that’s just sad, the children’s part was probably warmest

Yes, it would. FWIW I was thinking of Sure start groups blocking the library off, yes I know they were a good group but still, other people should have access to public space too.

You make a fair point.

I suppose my gut is very uncomfortable with disturbing anyone at prayer. Offering him another quiet spot would be more suitable, you are right.

It’s a deliberate provocation.

@tonyhawks23 I didn't say their was anything wrong with prayers and rest. I just think their is a time and a place for it. I don't think a children's area is appropriate. It should be available for the kids. Their reading space shouldn't be restricted due to adults wanting to sleep and pray on the floor

We also don’t know if that wasn’t the spot he was actually offered. A lot of assumption here that he chose to place himself there as opposed to any other corner of the library.

Nothing.

But any adult blocking shelves and taking up space in the child’s section is simply rude. Whether they’re praying, sleeping, scrolling on their phone, reading their own book while sitting in the way.

Actually blocking shelves in the adult section would also be rude.

I work in a public library. Don't know if it's the same in Scotland but sleeping is officially not allowed. We turn a blind eye if someone nods off on a chair but absolutely no to curling up on the floor. Also would move them on if doing anything in the children's area with no kid. Might have offered him the use of a side room.

Inverness library? How odd. The children’s area is enormous. How did one person praying physically prevent children from using it.

I agree with you. Childrens space for children

Is the prayer thing a regular occurrence? It might bother me if people were going in and doing that in large groups regularly, but if it was a one off I'd probably just chalk it up as a bit odd.

Libraries have attracted down and outs since time began. They're free to access and warm. Some councils have now designated them as warm spaces as well as libraries. Perhaps the library need some seating outside the kids section for this purpose.