Library uproar needs solving

The youths accused of eating fast food, swearing, smoking and being generally obnoxious at the Feilding Public Library have clearly hit a nerve with many residents in the town.

Consuming greasy KFC on library tables, smoking near the building’s entrance and creating excess noise were just a few of the complaints lodged by concerned library users, many of whom had previously enjoyed unfettered access to the facility.

So incensed was Feilding man Gary Barnett by the behaviour of some library users that he took his concerns to the Manawatu District Council chamber this month.

Mayor Margaret Kouvelis said she was aware of the issues and planned to discuss them with council, while community facilities manager Doug Tate said they were issues all modern libraries were grappling with.

Judging by the online reaction to the Manawatu Standard article on the matter, there are obviously a large number of Manawatu residents who have strong feelings about these issues, and how they were being handled by staff.

Libraries have for many years been treated with a reverence akin to a place of worship. They are often seen as institutions of quiet reflection where one can read, study and embark on research in a safe, calm environment.

This is still largely the case but modern libraries have evolved from their counterparts of yesteryear. Libraries of today are more vibrant organisations that seek to promote learning and reading skills to young people using a number of interactive multimedia platforms.

Fun, laughter and social engagement are encouraged but, like any public institution, there needs to be respect for other users, and for the facility itself.

A possible reason for young people congregating at the library is the lack of another suitable gathering point in Feilding. One possible course of action to remedy this would be to provide the district’s young people with a space of their own.

The Youth Space in Palmerston North was designed to provide teenagers and children with a place to socialise, read, listen to music and play games. Despite some initial reservations about its suitability, it has proven to be a successful venture for the city library.

The district council could instigate a campaign of rigid enforcement of the library’s rules but such a hardline approach is only likely to yield a short-term solution to what is obviously a wider community issue.