Library hires guards to throw out drunks
IT was once known for its pin- drop levels of silence and air of peaceful serenity that made it the perfect environment for enjoying literary classics.
But now it seems Edinburgh’s oldest public library is starting to gain a new – and far less relaxing – reputation.
Staff at Central Library have been forced to draft in bouncers to protect themselves and genuine readers following an increase in drunken, antisocial and sometimes even violent behaviour.
Some worse-for-wear members of the public have been using the building as a free place to shelter from the weather – intimidating those trying to use it for its intended purpose.
Edinburgh’s impressive Central Library on George IV Bridge was the first public reading space in the city and has a prestigious history that dates back to 1890.
But earlier this month, an alleged assault took place in the library on a Saturday afternoon that led to a 38- year- old man appearing in court.
Readers have also expressed concerns over drunks hurling abuse at staff and using the desks as makeshift bunks while they sleep off their skinful.
In an unprecedented move, City of Edinburgh Council has now brought in security staff to guard the door against rowdier would-be customers.
Regular users of the library say that antisocial behaviour has been showing a steady increase over the past few months.
They have even claimed that some customers have begun to avoid it all together as a result of the frequent disruptions.
One student said: ‘It was pretty bad, they were coming in just for a sleep.
‘It was intimidating for people studying and the staff shouldn’t have to deal with the rowdy drunks looking some somewhere out of the rain.’
City of Edinburgh Council has said that the library is the first of the 28 under their management which has required security staff on the door.
A spokesman for the local authority said: ‘In response to an isolated incident at the library recently, security measures have been brought in to reassure staff and customers and to promote a positive use of the library.’
A spokesman for Police Scotland yesterday confirmed that officers had dealt with an alleged assault earlier this month.
He said: ‘Police in Edinburgh were called to a business premises on George IV Bridge at around 2.40pm on March 5.
‘A 38-year-old man was arrested for the assault of a man, also aged 38.
‘ He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 7.’
The move to bring in door staff comes just one month after figures revealed that 72 people had been given month- l ong bans f r om Edinburgh libraries between April 2012 and March 2015.
Documents showed that vandalism of library property, drunken behaviour and visitors abusing staff after being woken up were all among the incidents recorded at libraries across the capital.
Other incidents have included episodes of racist abuse and an alleged attempted fire-raising.
Airguns were also fired at one library, whilst a number of people were reported to the police over alleged acts of violence.
‘Intimidating for people studying’