1898: 61 & 62 Victoria c.53: An Act to provide for the Punishment of Offences in Libraries.

[12th August 1898.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

[Short title.]

1. This Act may be cited as the Libraries Offences Act, 1898.

[Penalty for offences.]

2. Any person who, in any library or reading-room to which this Act applies, to the annoyance or disturbance of any person using the same, —

(1) behaves in a disorderly manner;

(2) uses violent, abusive, or obscene language;

(3) bets or gambles;

(4) or who, after proper warning, persists in remaining therein beyond the hours fixed for the closing of such library or reading-room,

shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings.

[Application of Act.]

3. This Act shall apply —

(a) to any library under the Public Libraries Act, 1892; and

[56 & 57 Vict. c.39.]

(b) to any library or reading-room maintained by a Society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893,

[59 & 60 Vict. c. 25.]

or under the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, or by any registered Trade Union.

[Extent of Act.]

4. This Act shall not apply to Scotland or Ireland.

Source: Law Reports Public General Statutes, 1898.

Further reading: Wikipedia.