Annoyed with private tutoring in public libraries

[BeingFluffy]

Just visited my local library - both adult and junior. They are both rather small and cramped.

In the adult library the section I wanted to look at was completely blocked off as a tutor and her tutees were plonked in front of it. I saw two other tutors with tutees in there as well.

In the junior library it was even worse. Both sets of tables and chairs were in use by a tutor and tutees. We we unable to look at the books we wanted to.

I did mention it to the staff and they said it concerned them but they weren't sure what to do about it, although the council's by-laws do ban commercial activities/businesses from running in the library.

Surely they can find somewhere else - failing all else there are plenty of coffee shops around and probably quieter.

I know the parks departments around here have started charging fitness groups that are run for profit in the public parks, I'm sure the same rules could be applied here.

The staff should be banning them! They've got a nerve coming in anyway. What's wrong with the tutors' houses? Or was it a one off? I think I would have just said Excuse me and pushed my way to the relevant books.

My friend is a tutor. She says that's what some of the clients want. You should be able to get to the books though.

Safer, innit.

at least they're using the libraries, surely it should be encouraged!

though the staff need to make sure the books and resources are available to everyone

I would certainly think for a first lesson it would be advisable to meet in a safe place like a library.

I would imagine it would be hard to concentrate in a coffee shop TBH.

Libraries are under threat of closure so the more people who use it the better. If they are disturbing you then that's another matter then you can complain but I'm sure the librarians are glad of every body that comes through the door.

What bothered you? I dont't get it. Couldn't you just say, "Excuse me, I'd like to look at those books?"

Sounds to me like your library staff need to grow a pair and, at a minimum, ensure that genuine library users are able to access library services. Especially if there's actually a by-law about it.

Are you sure the libary staff arn't taking a back-hander ?

This happens at our local library and it is annoying. There are seats round a table for 10 children, but a couple of tutors always sit there with one child each and spread all their work out so no-one else can fit on. A one-off would be fine, but it is always the same people taking the same amount of space. If they took a corner position and just took up their entitled space (i.e. two people = 2/10 of the table) then I wouldn't mind.

How do you know it's private tuition? ( apologies if I missed something?). Many council based tutors teach children and young people on a 1-1 in libraries, far safer and more appropriate than the pupils home.

Don't know about OP. As for me, I don't know, but I have guessed as the children being tutored are all wearing expensive private school uniforms and have expensive books and materials.

DoI my friend tutors a lot of private school children. I am constantly

DS1 had a tutor for maths in Year 2. He was at a state school but totally drowning while the teacher ploughed ahead regardless, helping the gifted ones.

It was amazing DoI. He just needed to go right back to where he started drowning, and be reassured he could do it. And he could. Half an hour a week.

He's in Year 9 now. Top set maths.

I had to tutor DS1 myself in Maths in Year 2. He went from bottom to top stream. He'd somehow missed something along the way and turned off at school. When the gap was plugged, whoosh, away he went!

He's not at private school though and we didn't take up undue amounts of library space!

Us neither Imaginate-the magic was done at our dining table, no hogging the library.

The staff should be banning them, as libraries are not for the purpose of providing business premises for free. It is of no benefit to the library that people are doing this, and it is a disbenefit if it drives away normal readers. If the library provided rooms for hire for these tutors that would be a different matter.

But it is quite likely that the library assistant you approached did not have the confidence or authority to ask them to go. I would write to the relevant director at your local council to complain - this should be dealt with and clear guidance given to library staff on how to deal with this.

I think it's fine to use the library but it's a public space so they shouldn't be greedy. But if people are spread out and nobody asks them to budge up, how will they know that they are inconveniencing people?

Sometimes homes are full of smaller kids or parents working from home. Libraries are under utilised resources and they will vanish. If people were selling drugs to kids in libraries, I could understand the outrage

Perhaps the tutors need to use the library books? It is quite possible.