Move to reinstate after-hours service at Cork library after 'anti-social behaviour'

Cork City Council is working to reinstate the popular after-hours service at one of the city’s busiest suburban libraries which was suspended due to repeated anti-social behaviour.

CCTV footage showed ‘tailgating’ at the entrance to Douglas library — gaining entry by following closely behind others — at a time when the library wasn’t staffed.

A modified and safer entry point that is designed to prevent such tailgating will be installed at Douglas library to allow the resumption of the My Open Library (MOL) service.

The timescale for the work is dependent on the certification of the changes and the physical works being undertaken but Cork City Council hopes to complete the work as quickly as possible. In the meantime, the MOL service continues at Bishopstown Library, Blackpool Library and Glanmire Library.

The MOL service relies on users’ full compliance with the established terms and conditions, with after-hours access to participating branches granted only to library members who have agreed to these terms.

During unstaffed hours, members who are registered for the MOL service can access participating library branches from 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends, to return and borrow books and to use study spaces, computers, wifi, printers and photocopiers.

However, the MOL service at Douglas library was suspended in early February following persistent anti-social behaviour.

MULTIPLE REPORTS

Library staff had received multiple reports from members about “boisterous and unsafe behaviour” in the branch during unstaffed hours.

The council now plans to install a modified and safer entry point to the Douglas library which includes an additional gate beyond the initial MOL entry point.

Converting the existing double-door entrance to a single-door system has been referred for assessment under fire safety regulations.