'Homeless people' pictured sleeping in Wolverhampton Library
“A public library is for everyone regardless of their position in society," a council spokesman said.
A comfy sofa, central heating and plenty of hush – the perfect place to get your head down for 40 winks.
This is a familiar scene for people using Wolverhampton Library as groups come in from the cold for some comfort.
A library user, who did not wish to be named, wanted to print out her tickets for a Wolves game on a Saturday when she came across a group of men sleeping in a communal area, who she believed to be homeless.
The woman said she was told by a worker at Central Library in Snow Hill that nothing could be done to stop them using the area to sleep.
In fact, libraries have long provided shelter for the homeless and the practice was highlighted by author George Orwell when he penned his book Down and Out in Paris and London.
The woman said: “There on the sofas are a group of homeless men totally out of it.
"The library worker said there is nothing they can do; they haven’t been able to stop them.
"They should have security - it's run by the council. I don't think I'll be going again."
A spokesman for Wolverhampton Council said: “A public library is for everyone regardless of their position in society.
"The problem of people falling asleep at Central Library isn’t common and, while it does happen from time to time, it isn’t always related to homelessness.
"Indeed, the sofas pictured form the waiting area for people wishing to use the library PCs.
“No concerns were reported to the duty officer in charge at Central Library at the time; if, however, someone was thought to be causing a disruption for whatever reason, they would of course immediately be told to leave the building.”
