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?

If your council has a money tree, then absolutely they should spend a few hundred million on this. Unfortunately that’s not the current state of affairs.
In the meantime, I think as a community we should be sharing the public spaces that do still exist and not reserve them for the more fortunate.

See https://fuelpovertypanel.scot/our-publications/the-scottish-fuel-poverty-advisory-panel-newsletter-july-2025/.

This year’s Scottish House Condition Survey paints a difficult picture of what increasingly looks like an entrenched fuel poverty figure of around a third – with 34% of Scotland’s households in fuel poverty.

More worryingly the figures showed that 19.4% of these households are in extreme fuel poverty, with the fuel poverty gap now estimated at £1,250.

Prayers are pretty quick aren't they? I'd use it as a chance to talk to my children about a different religion.

It's cheeky and inconsiderate.

Won’t someone think of children?!!!

Yes, he could have found a quieter spot.

No, this is not some secret masterplan that Muslims have to convert everyone and impose shariah law in the UK.

In a children's area? Any adults in there should be parents/carers only.
I would be making a complaint in writing to the council

Not being unreasonable. There is a difference between someone quietly and discreetly praying to themselves, and someone physically and publically occupying a childrens reading space for worship. Its not the place to do it and completely inappropriate.

Because it’s preventing the area being used for what it’s designed for. And children should be absolutely prioritised in the children’s area. Clue is in the name.

Might be different in Scotland, but in our area the library is the main designated warm space, as well as the place everyone is signposted to use the internet for their benefits requirements, and is the only place I'm aware of that has free toilets and free drinking water. CAB are based there too. So it pretty much serves as a daytime shelter for anyone vulnerable.
No point telling them to go to a homeless shelter, they were either closed, or they're temporary places that kick people out at 7am and they can't return until night.

@SpiritAdder I am not saying that people in poverty shouldn't be using libraries. Ofcourse they should be welcomed there. There are hundreds of children living in poverty too, and the library is a free space for them to go and learn and read books. There space shouldn't be taken over by adults praying and sleeping.

This is an appropriate response!

@SpiritAdder wouldn't the children be in school/nursery on a weekday?

So you agree a library is a neutral place, but OK for people to pray there..how does that make any sense?
We provide information, including religion of course. A chemist sells condoms...I doubt they would like you to use them on the premises.

I know the realities of libraries..I worked in them for many years.

The staff should provide an adult quiet space elsewhere for both people so they can feel at home and focus/relax without pesky kids.

This didn’t happen, did it OP?

Obviously someone did think of the children in allocating them an area in a library.

He’s imposing himself on a bunch of kids. It’s distracting them from books/play. If I was religious I wouldn’t dream of doing that. At least go the adult part of the library!

Most would be, which is another reason why I don’t understand why OP is insisting that one man and one women were monopolising the entire children’s area on a Thursday depriving loads of children of access to books.

(The mum and baby singalongs are for toddlers too young for nursery or not in nursery but home with mum.)

@Blueharmonica What are you talking about? Of course all libraries have books written by authors !

Yes, so you understand that a library is not a place free from politics and religion?

Oh please

@Annasimon So you agree a library is a neutral place, but OK for people to pray there..how does that make any sense?

Because praying does not interfere with other people's activities. You don't have to take part in it in any way, so it does not violate the principle of a library being a neutral space.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable op and it's totally unacceptable for anyone to pray in the children's area. Praying loudly is happening in other inappropriate situations and we are all too Britishly reserved to call it out.
In Bristol City Council call to prayer was sang out at public council meeting. This now happens at many English councils as many have Muslim mayors

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.

Where I live, I have seen Muslims praying in the bus station and the lounge of the cinema. The odd thing is they would have been pointing in opposite directions. So at least one of them doesn't know where Mecca is.

I'm sure you can start a campaign to properly fund homeless services and day shelters.

A library is not the place for prayers- surely this should be private at home or in his church? I wouldn’t be happy and I would have complained. Why the need to pray in a children’s area of all places ? Next time roll the rug back on the floor and sit on it with your child.
And a huge no to the sleepers too!