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 cannot understand why you think it is appropriate for someone to be running a private business from a public library. Surely they should be doing the same as all other businesses and arrange appropriate premises for their business, either through renting a space such as organisations like Kip McGrath does, or by holding the sessions in the home - either theirs or the tutees.

If you're not there to use the library facilites, you should be using somewhere else - particularly if you are then stopping legitimate library users from accessing books.

You seriously couldn't tell her to move? I would have. Politely, but there would have been the expectation of her or the children moving to allow access to the books.

And if that was not forthcoming, I would have told her that I expected her to move as the library is for everyone, and she was preventing me from accessing the section I needed.

If they still didn't move, I would squeeze past.

And if I wanted to sit at the table, I would ask politely if they could make some space for me and my children.

If she refused, I would simply pile up their spread out materials and hand them to her as I sat down.

I don't think the librarian needs to 'grow a pair', I think you do!

I would be irritated too op.
After tsk though would have barged to books as I said 'EXCUSE ME'!!

How can you tell if someone is tutoring for profit or not? You should give them the benefit of the doubt.

The tutor may well have been using library resources to supplement their own materials.

My Nan is a private tutor, she tutors in her own home, but she takes out library books to use to supplement her resources.

So the tutor is probably just as much a legitimate library user as you are.

And would it have bothered you if it had been a mum with her child doing exactly the same thing? Or is it just because it was a tutor?

I think this behaviour would have been rude either way, tutor or parent, but that both a tutor and a parent are equally allowed to use the library space.

So YABU to he pissed off that a tutor was using the space, but YANBU to think she was being rude by blocking your access to the books.

The pupils who are being tutored have every right to be in the library...just as the pupils who come to the library with their study books to simply study...just as adults go into the reference library with their own laptops to do their own 'work'...you cannot restrict the library to only those who take out books. The pupils who are being tutored almost always take out books too - it seems to me that there are some people who are simply being petty and trying to deny children further opportunities to learn. What is the problem...the children are learning in an appropriately safe learning environment and a tutor may (or may not) be receiving money - it is a win, win situation! If you need to go into the space where ANYONE is working, just politely ask them to move - no big deal..but, to make a point of trying to deny this facility to children actually trying to improve their learning is petty, petty, petty...

No, nobody has a "right" to run a business from a public library and prevent other patrons from using it. The pupils were not interested in the books - in fact the textbooks are in the childrens' library and this was the adult one.

I was there, I witnessed it and you didn't. If you want your local library to be only for private tutors fine, but I don't want mine to. There is limited space and that day it was all being used by tutors.

My husband, when he worked in that branch, had to on more than one occasion, throw out druggies and prostitutes who were plying their trade in the toilets, I imagine they are legitimate library users too, perhaps they borrowed a book on the way out, never mind the anti social behaviour!

Did you actually ask them to move and they refused?

Did you then go to the staff and say that you asked them to move and they refused, ask the staff to come and ask them to let you get to the books and THEY refused?

If you did those things then I would suggest putting in a complaint. Everyone should be able to use the library and if someone is blocking a whole section, they should be willing to move with a good grace if needed.

If you didn't do those things, do them next time and see what the outcome is.

Not all the tutors in libraries are private tutors . My DD has a tutor at the moment as due to health issues she cannot attend school . Our tutor does some of her sessions in the library ( not just with my DD ) and she does it so that the children get out and about a bit / meet up with other tutees and hence are less isolated . YABU to be so judgemental , I pay my taxes the same as you so why should my DD not be entitled to use the library.

Honestly, I do have sympathy with your situation and, as long as these sessions do not to disturb other users, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But I don't think this is the situation that the OP is really referring to.

Heinous, I wanted to browse a section. The tutees chairs were backed right up to it. I tried to squeeze behind and said excuse me then the tutor tssked at me and glared. I went away but mentioned the staff that they were preventing me from using the library as I couldn't look at the books. The staff member went and spoke to them. The tutor confirmed it was a private enterprise for money.

I felt embarassed and left soon after. I did have a conversation with the staff member about the council bye-laws. He also called his colleague over and they said they would seek guidance about how to proceed as they were sick of it.

There was an incident in another branch in the borough where tutors were bringing groups of 8-10 at a time and they were told not to do so anymore. In general I think you can turn a blind eye, but when the whole library is taken over by tutors it is difficult. That library does not have a reference library.

I used to work in an academic library (law library) where we would ask any student for their details and pass it on to their tutors if they made a lot of noise, hid or hogged books or caused hassle to other users. A public library should be for all.

We're talking about kids here who are getting extra lessons, so that they can keep up with their peers in class

I don't think we are. In OPs case, I think they were getting extra lessons so that can compete for places at highly selective schools. Strangely enough, I have never seen this in my local library, which is isn't really surprising as we have no selective or private schools in the area.

The library is a place of learning and when someone, who just wants to check out a book, starts to complain because the kids who are learning are in their way, it is just wrong!

Yes, it is a place of learning and there are usually dozens of people in the reference library quietly pursuing study, but that is not what OP is compaining about.

Cecily, I live in an inner city borough, the schools are not selective. The local school (a comp) where my younger child goes, is very supportive of students and they provide extra classes for kids on Saturdays if necessary.

This was not a remedial class. The tutees in the adult library looked like older teenagers and the maths was A' level; from what I overheard they were being coached for Uni entrance tests or similar.

Then I think it is reasonable to complain. everyone should be able to make full use of a public facility. It is unreasonable and selfish for one person or group to think that they can use something in a way that prevents others from doing so.

Although the staff were really crap to not go over to them and demand they allow other users of the library access to ALL of it.

How can you tell if someone is tutoring for profit or not? You should give them the benefit of the doubt.

I think in the affluent area where OP lives, it is a fair bet. And the fact that there was more than one group, also gives that impression. As I said above, I have never seen this in my local library.

'Are you sure the libary staff arn't taking a back-hander ?' - Ha!!
Are you serious? Yes, we are all raking it in!!

There was a man tutoring a couple of boys regularly out on the tables at work, and he was told to leave and find somewhere more suitable. He wasn't very happy but he went. We have meetings rooms they can access if they book them. If this is happening often and there are as many as there are then it needs to be addressed. Especially if the library is small and there is then nowhere for you to sit. Ask to speak to the manager.

DS has an A level maths tutor, he comes to our home each week. I would be [hshock] if he suggested holding the sessions in the library.

Op u are definitely nbu

How pathetic the OP's post is... So, she stops the child from getting tutored with her complaint - what's the outcome: a child who is not getting that extra helping hand and a person who is tutoring to make end meet is denied that extra income... It's okay, you say, because at least YOU can access your books. Well, missy, the library isn't only for you. The library is for ALL, but you seem to be trying to deny access to anyone who, according to your opinion, is unworthy. Your argument is utter nonsense.
Next, you will be denying driving instructors from bringing their pupils on the road for paid lessons, because, after all, you want to drive down an unencumbered road.
The library is a public area and it is not for YOU to decide who can and cannot use it or who IS or is not worthy of having access. You seem to maintain that it is simply impossible for you to access the library if a pupil is being tutored. Well...I say, Tough! If the supermarket is too crowded with shoppers shopping for a catering event, will you complain then, because you would not be able to reach a certain item on the shelves? It is completely selfish of you to think that pupils getting tutored have no right to the library space, but that you do. I am exasperated with this selfish attitude.

Stop the pupils from getting tutored so that YOU can access books - The outcome is that pupils are denied that extra learning time and people on meagre income lose too. Instead, why don't you act like you would in any other place where there would be a crowd of people - say "Excuse Me' and get what you want - this way, ALL have access to the library, not just you.

Further, 'Being", you compared the illegal activities of prostitutes and drug-dealers to tutors in your library- that demonstrates how you must look down on people who tutor. So that seems to be the crux of the issue - you find tutors beneath you and are appalled that they deign to slighter encumber your access... How dare you compare the prostitution and drug dealing to tutoring a child...If you didn't realise, the former activities are illegal and actually harmful to everyone associated it...whereas, tutoring helps a child with their EDUCATION and enables someone to earn a crust to live on... Shocking, absolutely shocking values that you have displayed.

Further, 'Being", you compared the illegal activities of prostitutes and drug-dealers to tutors in your library- that demonstrates how you must look down on people who tutor. So that seems to be the crux of the issue - you find tutors beneath you and are appalled that they deign to slighter encumber your access... How dare you compare the prostitution and drug dealing to tutoring a child...If you didn't realise, the former activities are illegal and actually harmful to everyone associated it...whereas, tutoring helps a child with their EDUCATION and enables someone to earn a crust to live on... Shocking, absolutely shocking values that you have displayed.

They might not (all) be private tutors. I work in a unit for excluded children and some of them are tutored one to one in a library if they don't get on well within the unit. Often it is a safety issue or a better learning environment for them than their own home.

Pretzelsmakemethirsty you sound barking.

Are you a private tutor by any chance?

Beingfluffy - I have this problem too - seems to be mostly excluded school kids beeping tutored by council tutors.

Often it's more about x factor/I'm a celeb than history/Mathis etc.

As a result I no longer visit the library (with my HE dc) in the morning - only ever in the afternoon when the tutors aren't there. - tis annoying and inconvenient.

I have been known to ask the tutors to pipe down (they were discussing x factor)

pretzel completely missed the point!

Fwiw I don't object to the tutorsbeingthere but they should use the Rommel available upstairs (in our library anyway) not swamp the tiny children's library and sit squawking about tv programmes.