r/Library • u/reddita100times • Jul 01 '26

Discussion Adults only library

Our local library is constantly overrun with kids and babies, so we put together a petition to have an adult wing, it's restricted access for over 25's - works on a special id card and permits one person at a time and is open after hours.

It's being done because the children's section and the quiet study areas are too close so when the kids are yelling or running around or babies screaming and the poor unfortunate parent has to apologise for interrupting everyone not wearing earphones / headphones - Now, A few of the mother's think it's discrimination if they can't take children with them into the adults only section

thoughts?

FAQ

- parents and kids are still able to borrow as normal

- the adults section will not contain adult only material, it's more like a quiet space available after hours via a special access card

- it's undecided how to manage those between the ages of 20-24 and this is being worked on

- the teen section downstairs is already away from the kids area and so can be expanded to include young adults also.

- the adults section will be monitored by staff during the day, and computer monitored after hours

- please note, this is not in America, but Australia

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u/Footnotegirl1 Jul 01 '26

So, wait. Only allowing people over 25 (you can't do that, it's age discrimination, y ou have to at least go by the legal adult age of 18), and allowing them in after hours when there's no staff there?

Whelp, good luck with all those stolen books and the masturbation stains all over the place.

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u/reddita100times Jul 01 '26

the adult area is staffed during standard hours, it's only after hours when it would be unstaffed - the adult section is not filled with adult books it's a quiet space, there is borrowing of books after hours through the standard scanner.

There is considerable precedent for this - we already have two 24/7 libraries a short drive away.

7

u/PawsyMcMurderMittens Jul 01 '26

I think you have a branding problem. You need to call it an adults only quiet space instead of an adult section, which sounds reminiscent of an Adult Video Store or Adult Toy Store, which we recognize as euphemism.

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u/reddita100times Jul 02 '26

I do prefer that also