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?

I work in libraries, some of our city centre libraries do get a lot of homeless people in during the day - it’s warm, free internet and computer/ books access. Occasionally they do fall asleep but we have to wake them up. They arrive at the library for opening, stay most of the day and then go to Wetherspoons in the evening for bottomless tea/ coffee/ hot chocolate.

ive never experienced anyone praying id probably tactfully suggest they go on one of the meeting rooms (but obviously depends on library size)

Goady post and not sure if it’s true. However, if it is, I find someone praying / or sleeping wonderfully peaceful, I don’t mind which god it is. Out of tune kids singing is less peaceful, still lovely

I work in a public library. A man alone in the children's secton is totally inappropriate. If I see any, not often, I ask them to move.

Anyone, praying would be asked to leave. A Muslim asked permission once. I refused because a library is an apolitical and non religious space.

We have homeless people who do sleep in the library. With this it depends, where they have fallen asleep!

It's very difficult to imagine this scenario in my head. My experience with Muslims is that they tend to be very self-conscious about praying in public, and they will go to great lengths to ensure that they are not interfering with other people.

It would be very strange for a Muslim man to move a children's play mat to pray, because 1) there's loads of floor space in any library to pray, and 2) a children's play area is a very bad spot for praying because children are noisy and might interfere.

As for the woman sleeping, I doubt anyone would choose to sleep in a library if they could avoid it, so I hope she gets the shelter that she needs.

But this didn’t happen in another country it happened in Inverness so I don’t get why it’s relevant to this man’s situation.

why do you think it’s relevant?

I will assume it’s true - due to the fact that upthread OP posted a photo of said mat.

I mean seriously - ponder all you want but to take pictures as evidence 😂 way too invested

@Blueharmonica That's exactly how I felt intimidated. Almost if him and his religion was superior to us that he had the right to take over our space. It just made me feel so uncomfortable.

Next time let the toddlers loose to disturb him, he'll soon clear off.

@Annasimon Anyone, praying would be asked to leave. A Muslim asked permission once. I refused because a library is an apolitical and non religious space.

This is a weird perspective. I agree that a library should be a neutral spot when it comes to politics and religion, but I don't see why that should prevent people from praying. Neutrality on religion does not mean that religious needs cannot be catered for, especially those needs that do not interfere with other people (such as praying).

All libraries have books written by authors with strong political perspectives, along with different religious texts such as the Bible, so I don't see how your viewpoint fits with the reality of what a library is.

That was the aim, I wish people would start supporting each other more especially when it affects children.

I reserve a study room at our local library at least once a week. One of the many rules I have to agree to is that the room is not for sleeping. It has some specific wording that makes it clear they won’t ban you if you nod off over your book, but that you can’t intentionally misuse the space.

I'm not understanding this at all, and I am saying this as someone who wishes that all channel crossings would stop and that we had tighter immigration controls.

To me, a person praying is nothing. I don't see why it's an issue. Again, I am questioning whether this actually happened because it would be very strange for a Muslim to take over a play area when libraries generally have loads of free space for praying.

I see mine advertised as warm places for anyone who can’t afford to heat their home so imho, people are going to do quiet activities they would normally do at home if they could put the heat on. This includes praying and sleeping. I take it you’ve never been so cold you cannot sleep?

@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.

Yes, but why have a children's area (not just books but mat to sit on etc.) if you’re not going to reserve it for children?

What are you talking about? Of course all libraries have books written by authors ! It’s a library! I tell you what all libraries don’t have, men in the middle of the children’s area on the floor preying to an invisible being. Do you know why? Because they’re libraries. It’s really very simple.

He may have been a member of staff and maybe the children's area is usually fairly quiet and empty that time of day so he thought he could do his prayer quickly without bothering anyone.
I don't think the prayer would have taken long. A few minutes if that.

I feel that is a a problem with your perceptions or perhaps your viewpoint on religion. There is no reason to be intimidated by a silently praying person who isn’t barring you from doing anything. You don’t have a right to feel comfortable in every public space you go into.

@SpiritAdder so at what point does it become a hostel and not a library? Are our kids just meant to trip over people sleeping on the floor in the library? That's why I am saying the council should have another place for people who need somewhere to sleep.

So if op and dc had plonked themselves down on the floor too and started loudly and enthusiastically reading “Going on a Bear Hunt” with all the actions next to him.. would that be ok?

The problem is very very clearly this man’s perception of what the children’s area of a library is for and not the op’s viewpoint on religion.

There’s nothing wrong with prayers or rest or bathing or food shopping or doing your washing up or undressing or… any of those things. It’s just… sometimes there’s better places to do them? I don’t know, just a thought. 🙂

Have you expressed your concerns to the council and the librarian OP? You are clearly quite sure that you are not being unreasonable to object to a Muslim person praying in the library, so there's nothing much we can add really. Contact the authorities.

We do get a few rough sleepers who like to hang out in our local library for many hours, but I've only seen them in the adults' section, never in the much smaller kids' area. I've never seen anyone using the kids' area for praying either. I don't think most adults would dream of doing either, as it would look odd and they would be unlikely to get any peace.

On the other hand, the library does have a few study/meeting rooms and I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to sleep or pray in one of those as it's rare to see them all in use.

Ahhh .... now I see how it's possible. Sad me had to google it, as I had visualised a small area! It's like a hall ! Can see how some might find it inviting, for a little snooze or a place to offer one up 🙌🏾