A West Lothian Lothian library will be restricting admission to “keep customers and staff safe” in the wake of ongoing anti-social behaviour.
Starting on December 6, the Simpson Library Bathgate will only admit registered library members from 4pm-8pm on Fridays.
Library customers are asked to bring their membership number when utilising library services to ensure safety of staff.
The tightened restrictions will be enforced every Friday during a trial period beginning this week.
This comes after the nearby Jim Walker Partnership community centre has dealt with anti-social incidents after dark.
Bathgate police said that they are monitoring anti-social behaviour in the area and that people caught committing a crime will “find themselves arrested”.
A message sent to library customers said: “Unfortunately over the last few weeks, Jim Walker Partnership Centre has been experiencing some anti-social behaviour in the evenings.
“In order to keep our customers and staff safe it has been agreed that, between the hours of 4pm and 8pm on Friday evenings, for a trial period, the library will only be available to registered library members.
“Please note that you may be asked to show your library membership to gain entry to the centre. This trial period starts on Friday 6th December.”
Residents took to social media to voice their response to the crackdown.
One local said: “Seems totally fair. Means they can track who’s being an a-hole.”
Another penned: “I think that’s a good decision, keep people safe.”
A third shared: “Just arrest the little s***s, problem solved.”
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, there have been a few incidents of anti-social behaviour at Simpson Library in the Jim Walker Partnership Centre in Bathgate recently.
“The library operates on a self-service basis between 4pm and 8pm on Fridays, with no dedicated library staff onsite. To support staff and customers, we have asked library members who wish to use the library during this time to bring along their membership number for a trial period.
“We hope this will prevent further incidents while steps are taken to address the issue, and ensure access can be maintained for library users.”
Police Inspector Murray Legge said: “We know that tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority for residents of Bathgate. Reports of anti-social behaviour are always taken seriously.
“Those involved in this type of behaviour should have more respect of the neighbourhoods in which they live.
“We work closely with partners as we are acutely aware of the upset that any form of anti-social behaviour can have within a community.
“We have officers patrolling in the area and anyone caught committing crime may find themselves arrested.”
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