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We could ban noisy schoolchildren from our libraries
• IN April reports appeared in The Times about the complaints of users of the British Library disturbed by the increasingly large number of students who talk loudly, use mobile phones, and eat and drink in the reading rooms.
This problem appears to have spread to Swiss Cottage library and may already be prevalent in other libraries around London.
On Thursday May 8, I witnessed a “scene” where a lady, obviously engaged in some project of serious research, was attempting to remonstrate with a group of half a dozen schoolgirls sitting at an adjacent table.
The girls responded to her entreaties for quiet with the attitude that it was she who was making the nuisance by interfering with their “party”.
After a librarian had been called to attend to the problem, the girls grudgingly moderated their behaviour a little bit.
Many readers will remember a time when this sort of “trivial incident” could be resolved by simply asking the offenders to refrain from talking.
Today, this remedy no longer works and, indeed, is likely to be greeted with derision if not personal abuse.
Tougher measures are needed.
As matters stand, library staff do not have the powers to ensure that serious readers are not disturbed by this ongoing nuisance.
The problem will only get worse, if it is not dealt with now.
Would it not be fair to everyone to ban all schoolchildren from using the library until they have received formal permission from the librarian after an application from their teacher?
This may appear draconian and I would be sorry to deter the majority of children who are able to consider the needs of other users of the library and who want to use its facilities for their proper purpose. Do your readers have any better suggestions?
• I should like to thank the 3,677 voters of Barnet and Camden who supported my bid for a seat on the London Assembly at the recent elections.
I should also like to remind all voters in Barnet and in Camden that next year there will be elections for the European Parliament and that this will be a prime opportunity to express your dissatisfaction with Britain’s membership of the European Union.
Magnus Nielsen
UKIP candidate on May 1, Finchley Road, NW3
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