ANTISOCIAL youths have forced a York library to change its opening hours.

Staff at New Earswick Library have had problems with a gang of youths causing trouble at the library. To put an end to the group's behaviour, City of York Council libraries team has decided to close the library in the afternoons.

A council spokeswoman said the gang had been gathering at the library in the afternoons and had made life a misery for both customers and library staff.

She added that the group's actions had made staff feel insecure and concerned for their welfare.

Fiona Williams, head of libraries and heritage at the council, said: "We are taking positive action to ensure the library remains a facility for local residents. We want to encourage everyone to use the city's libraries, particularly young people, but library-users need to respect the facility, staff and other users. It is simply not acceptable for staff to feel nervous and insecure in their work environment.

"We hope that by opening the library in the mornings, rather than afternoons, we will discourage the small minority of people who are causing problems for everyone else."

The move is not the first time New Earswick Library has tried to stamp out problems with antisocial behaviour.

Last summer the library launched The Venue, an initiative aimed at teenagers to improve the library's relationship with young people in the community. The library had hoped the scheme, which provided young people with monthly workshops and projects, would reduce antisocial behaviour in the area.

At the launch of the scheme, senior library assistant Joy Cann had said there were problems with crime and young people "hanging around" outside the library.

The library will now open between 9am and 1pm on Monday and Tuesday and between 9am and 12.30pm on Wednesday and Friday. On Saturday it will be open between 9.30am and 12.30pm and it will be closed on Thursdays.

As well as changing the opening times, the council will continue to work with local schools, the Joseph Rowntree Trust and the police to combat antisocial behaviour in and around the library.

A police spokeswoman said they were aware of ongoing problems with youths in the New Earswick area and extra patrols had been put in place. She said the problems at the library were mainly general disorder and vandalism, including smashing windows.

Updated: 08:36 Monday, June 07, 2004