Libraries could be forced to employ security guards and have staff wear body cams if a rise in anti-social behaviour continues.

Statistics show more than a 500% increase in incidents against staff and other library users between 2020 and 2023.

Kent County Council (KCC) currently owns and runs 99 public library buildings.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by KentOnline revealed staff had logged 108 incidents of antisocial behaviour last year. This is a 35% increase from 2022 (80).

It is also the highest number in the past three years, with just 17 reported in 2020 and 20 in 2021, although libraries were closed during the pandemic.

Chief executive of Libraries Connected, Isobel Hunter, said: “There's a whole range of incidents that are quite minor, to the ones which are much more serious that involve having to call the police, physical injury and serious damage to library equipment.

“Any level of disruption or intimidation is not appropriate in a library setting – especially in many where we have very low numbers of staff.

“Even incidents that we might think are quite minor can be intimidating.”

The 56-year-old added: “It might be teenagers coming in and throwing stuff around, being really noisy and disturbing other people.

“It might be members of the public being abusive to library staff. It might be people with drinking problems.

“Sometimes it's disruption and abuse between library users themselves.”

KentOnline previously reported on a mentally ill woman who had been banned attacked an assistant librarian with a hammer.

The incident happened after Olga Newson breached the time restrictions on the computers in Sittingbourne.

Community libraries have also been targeted and subjected to antisocial behaviour.

In December 2022, yobs tore novels from shelves and set fire to them on Whitstable seafront.

A space in Dover was targeted just a few months later.

Dozens of books were filled with shards of broken glass, which were suspected to have been shattered by ball bearings.

The data set also revealed Hive House Library in Northfleet had the most antisocial behaviour during the last four years.

It had logged 15 incidents in 2022 alone – the highest number in the year compared to others.

Dartford Library was also one of the worst, with just one incident in 2020 but jumping to 12 in 2023.

The least troubled areas included Westgate, Vigo and Teynham. All were recorded as having none or just a one-off incident.

Isobel believes the number of reports could vary depending on the staff member involved, location and size of each building.

Matthew Kerr, KCC service manager for Dartford, Gravesham and Swale stressed that they have a “zero tolerance” policy.

He said: “We set out our expectations of the customer's behaviour – what we want from them and what they can expect from us. That's what we stick to.

“You warn someone, and if they continue doing it, you take further action.”

Since Covid they have seen a significant increase in visitors, equating to higher numbers of antisocial reports.

Caroline Frater, KCC service manager for Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells said: “It could be that we are very good at reporting compared to the past.

“We've done a lot of work and training with our staff to make sure these incidents are reported and we can act upon them. I think we're getting better at that.”

Ms Frater, who has worked in the industry for more than 10 years, also emphasised that several logs could be related to one repeat individual.

She added: “I know that one of the areas, Southborough, is in my district and the incidents did go up slightly last year. That was down to one group.”

In September, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) published guidance on how to make the space safe and inclusive.

Libraries Connected also created a guide in response to feedback at regional meetings.

CCTV, bodycams, security, panic buttons, safe spaces and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are some of the preventative methods being used.

Staff are also being trained to de-escalate situations and if needed, can ban customers from returning.

“A lot of our buildings do have CCTV, which can be very useful,” Caroline said. “About three years ago, we introduced personal safety devices.

“They are like a panic alarm that goes through to a contact centre. It is becoming more common.

“A lot of public services have these and they were very welcomed by staff.

“We also work closely with our PCSOs and community wardens.”

“Positively engaging with groups like teenagers naturally reduce the incidences of antisocial behaviour,” Matthew added. “It almost becomes self-policing.”

Isobel explained that the ongoing disruption won’t be solved with “one silver bullet”, but lots of factors that need to be addressed locally and nationally.

“I think it's really important that councils understand what's going on,” she said.

“They need to make sure they've got rock-solid support for staff, as well as systems so that they can monitor and understand what level of disruption is happening.

“Collectively, we've all got to keep hold of this vision that the library is this comfortable place for everybody.

“We don't want to get to a stage where there are bars on the windows and security guards on the door.”

Despite the increase, Isobel hopes that the police, town centre teams and schools will continue to work together to support their local libraries.

KCC’s head of libraries, registration and archives, James Pearson, said: “Like many public services, retail and other library authorities across the country, we do see incidents of disruptive behaviour.

“We fully recognise any incident is concerning for our staff and the customers when this occurs.

“Disruptive behaviour covers a range of things, from more low-level behaviour to more aggressive behaviour.

“What the figures show is staff are reporting unacceptable behaviour, which is vital for us as a service to take action.

“Libraries are the heart of many communities across Kent and the majority of visitors respect our spaces.”