Library considers ban on sleeping

The Iowa City Public Library is to consider introducing a ban on sleeping at the facility, after staff argued that those who snooze make other library users uncomfortable and take up limited space.

On any given day, among those reading, working, and relaxing are others sleeping, snoring, and often times disrupting. Library staff are now considering a sleep ban after receiving complaints from the public.



"People sleeping in the library disturb other people. It makes them uncomfortable, particularly if they are laying down on a couch," library director, Susan Craig said.  Staff say the problem is with disruptive behaviour and not with a particular group of people.

"If there's a 20-year-old college student with their head down on their textbook they need to be treated the same way as someone who is dressed in a way that someone may assume they're homeless," Craig said.

With news video.